Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola did not hide being a massive fan of Inter goalkeeper André Onana before and after the Champions League Final against the Nerazzurri.
The Cameroon international moved to the Stadio Meazza on a free transfer from Ajax last summer and has quickly become a regular starter under Simone Inzaghi. He kept five clean sheets in seven Champions League knock-out games this season, but Guardiola admires the 27-year-old, especially for his ability to play with his feet.
Pep first praised Onana on Tuesday, during Manchester City’s media day organised by UEFA.
“Identifying the space and emptying the midfield is a special quality. Normally, teams have great keepers, but he [Onana] is exceptional with his feet.”
Guardiola continued praising Onana after the final whistle in Istanbul on Saturday night during an interview with Sport Mediaset.
“When you have a goalkeeper like Onana who can read perfectly where everyone is to pass to, with Calhanoglu and Barella, then the strikers hold it up and move the ball around. It is very, very difficult. It would be a tiny bit easier without this goalkeeper, but still very tough.”
Now, it remains to be seen if Pep’s admiration for Onana means Man City will make a move to sign him in the summer, considering that Ederson, 29, is under contract until 2026 at the Etihad Stadium.
Surely, the Cameroon international has been targeted by Man City’s Prem rivals Chelsea who reportedly had a €40m bid rejected by Inter before the Champions League Final. Onana’s deal at the Stadio Meazza expires in June 2027.