Manchester United were reportedly keen on signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during the summer transfer window.
A report from Independent via TEAMtalk has claimed that Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag blocked a move for Emiliano Martinez in favour of Andre Onana. Ten Hag had worked with Onana in the past during their time together at Ajax, and he favoured a move for the former Inter Milan goalkeeper.
Martinez has firmly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and he was outstanding for his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Martinez was one of the biggest reasons why Argentina won the competition, and he is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League as well.
Signing him would have been a major coup for Manchester United, and the Red Devils might regret their decision. Summer signing Andre Onana has been quite error-prone so far, and his performances have been largely underwhelming.
The goalkeeper has been criticised heavily for costing his team valuable points, and it remains to be seen whether he can justify his signing in the coming months. There is no doubt that the 27-year-old is a quality player. But Martinez is probably a better goalkeeper and the Red Devils should have opted for him.
The World Cup winner was expected to join a big club during the summer transfer window, but a move did not materialise. It will be interesting to see if any club is willing to make a move for him during the January transfer window.
The Argentine international is a world-class player, and he deserves to play at the highest level. The opportunity to play for Manchester United could have been an attractive proposition for him. Meanwhile, despite the fair initial criticism, Onana has improved his performances in the last few games. He also earned Manchester United a narrow win over FC Copenhagen.
Reports have claimed that Manchester United might look to invest in another goalkeeper if Onana fails to live up to the expectations as the weeks progress. The Red Devils will have to secure Champions League qualification. But with Erik ten Hag vehemently backing Onana, signing another goalkeeper might be out of the question.
