André Onana has in an exclusive interview with Goal once again extensively looked back at his doping suspension and all the associated consequences. The goalkeeper of Ajax, who made his official return under the bar at the end of last month in the Champions League match against Besiktas, still does not have a good word for UEFA. The goalkeeper’s doping suspension was reduced from twelve to nine months after an appeal, but that did not stop the Cameroonian from razing the European Football Association.
In the interview, Onana looks back on his time as an Ajax player. The goalie is still under contract in Amsterdam until next summer, but has already indicated that he would like to leave. “My time at Ajax was great,” said Onana. “We have achieved many things and have become a top European club again. I can only say that Ajax is a great club, especially for young players who want to show themselves at the highest level. Ajax has done a great job in my time. They have given me everything to become an even better player, including in the Champions League. I am grateful to the club for that.”
Due to the doping suspension, Onana was not allowed to play both nationally and internationally until November 4. Two months before his suspension expired, he was allowed to train again at Ajax, where he joined the U23 team. “It was a really tough time, but I’m glad I got through it,” he says back. “I really hope young players are more careful as UEFA isn’t concerned with this. I’ve tried to stay the same, but it’s not easy when you’re left alone. I think I’ve stayed the same, but it’s up to other people to judge whether I have changed or not.”
Onana resumed group training at Ajax on September 4 and returned to the A-selection after a short period at Jong Ajax. A decision by the club management that was met with a lot of resistance from supporters, among others. “I wasn’t allowed to do so many things,” Onana refers to his suspension. “I couldn’t go to the stadium and had to train for myself. I was not allowed to be trained by any Ajax coach and I was also kept away from professional coaches. At the beginning I got the idea that UEFA did not want me to have my career because I wasn’t allowed to do anything at the club I was like: wow!”
The goalkeeper went to Spain after his suspension and took a large team with him for personal guidance. The Cameroonian previously worked in Spain during his time at Barcelona. “I worked there with a goalkeeper trainer, my physio, my mental coach and my communication manager”, Onana sums up. “I also had a few other people who helped me. In total I had seven people working. It was tough but great that these guys helped me so well. Nine months felt like five with these people. We worked hard I struggled to get back to where I am now. That would never have been possible without my team.”
In the new year, Onana will be part of the solidarity initiative ‘Common Goal’, donating one percent of his salary to help young people with a visual impairment in Cameroon. Due to his origin, the goalkeeper does not feel that he has to fight harder to be recognized in football. “It was like that years ago, but now we see a lot of black goalkeepers at top clubs,” said Onana. “Hopefully that makes it easier for black keepers. If you have the qualities, you earn it automatically. It’s not that difficult. It’s not an issue for me, because people know me and know what I can do. I will always be my thing and inspire young black goalkeepers. We are all human and we should have a good relationship with each other. We should learn from each other. Every day.”
One day a black goalkeeper will win the Ballon d’Or, Onana is convinced. Lev Yashin is still the only goalkeeper to win the Golden Ball in the past. The former goalkeeper did that in 1963 on behalf of Dynamo Moscow. “Edouard Mendy almost did. He had a great season. There will come a black goalkeeper who will win it someday. It doesn’t matter if it’s today, tomorrow or later. One day it will happen. It’s a great challenge for all of us, but I see that this generation has a lot of good young goalkeepers. My ambition has always been to be the best in the world. It was like that before my suspension and that will never change.”
Onana is now frequently linked to Internazionale and Arsenal. In conversation with SPORT He also says he is still in touch with Barcelona. “I’ve had a really, really good relationship since I left. Whether Barcelona is my first option? Obviously. Barca is my home and there have always been contacts. It’s my home and I grew up there. If it becomes Barcelona, it will be Barcelona.” According to Onana, there is still no sign of an oral agreement with Internazionale. “People talk about a lot of things, including Arsenal and Barcelona. At the moment there is nothing going on.”