Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has issued a brutal assessment of Andre Onana's troubled start to life at Old Trafford, openly suggesting the goalkeeper may require a temporary exit to regain his shattered confidence.
The Cameroonian international, who arrived with much fanfare in a £47 million summer transfer from Inter Milan, has endured a nightmare beginning to his Premier League career. His latest error—a calamitous mistake leading to Bayern Munich's opening goal in Wednesday's Champions League clash—has proven the final straw for many observers.
Ferdinand, speaking on his Vibe with FIVE podcast, did not mince his words. "The first goal… it's embarrassing," he stated. "It's a schoolboy error. He will be sitting in that dressing room at half-time, and he won't be able to look anybody in the eye."
A Crisis of Confidence
The former England defender pinpointed a complete erosion of self-belief as the core issue, a stark contrast to the commanding presence Onana displayed during Inter's run to last season's Champions League final.
"He's just not playing with the same conviction," Ferdinand analysed. "His body language is all wrong. The confidence is completely drained from him. At Inter Milan, he was vocal, he was a leader, he was coming for crosses. Now he's rooted to his line, he's hesitant, and it's costing his team."
The Radical Solution: A January Loan Exit
In a startling proposal, Ferdinand floated the idea of United sanctioning a short-term loan move in the January transfer window to allow their struggling number one to reset away from the intense glare of the Old Trafford spotlight.
"I'm wondering, and it might be a stupid question, but do you take him out the team? Do you almost say, 'Go on loan for a few months somewhere, get your confidence back, and then come back'?" Ferdinand questioned. The pundit acknowledged the unorthodox nature of the suggestion for a big-money signing but insisted the current situation is "not working for anybody."
This rocky start places immense pressure not only on Onana but also on manager Erik ten Hag, who aggressively pursued his former Ajax player to replace the long-serving David de Gea. Ten Hag's unwavering loyalty to his new signing is now being tested like never before as United's defensive frailties continue to undermine their season.
