André Onana can be admired for the first time on Monday 23 May in the Giuseppe Meazza, the stadium of his new employer Internazionale. Freelance journalist Willem Haak, who specializes in Italian football, reports on Wednesday that the goalkeeper from Cameroon who is leaving Ajax has been invited by compatriot Samuel Eto’o for a benefit match in the accommodation of the current number two in Serie A.
In addition to Onana, Eto’o, who won the Champions League with Inter in 2010, has also sent invitations to Wesley Sneijder, Patrick Kluivert, Javier Zanetti, Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi, Maicon and Marco Materazzi. The so-called Integration Heroes Match was created by Eto’o to draw attention to the fight against any form of discrimination. The former attacker, now president of the Cameroon Football Association, believes Italian football is making progress when it comes to discrimination: “Italy is one of the least racist countries I know,” he recently said at a press conference.
Andre Onana will play his first game in San Siro next Monday. Together with men such as Zanetti, Totti, Inzaghi, Kluivert and Sneijder, he participates in a benefit competition organized by Samuel Eto’o. Beginning of his time in Milan.
— Willem Haak (@WillemHaak) May 18, 2022
Earlier this year, Onana opted for a five-year contract with Inter, which will take over the goalkeeper from Ajax on a free transfer. The closing post from Cameroon lost his base place at Ajax at the end of the season, as Erik ten Hag chose Maarten Stekelenburg. Onana was not even in the match selection in Ajax’s last few matches in the Eredivisie. His new employer Inter can still win the championship despite the second place. Then there must be a win against Sampdoria, while leader AC Milan may not beat Sassuolo. The difference with one game to go is two points.