Manchester United in Talks with Cameroon Over Andre Onana’s Call-Up for Africa Cup of Nations
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, has confirmed that the club is currently in talks with Cameroon regarding Andre Onana’s call-up for the Africa Cup of Nations. Onana, who is United’s No.1 goalkeeper, was recently named in Cameroon’s 27-man squad for the tournament, which is set to begin on January 13.
If Onana and his country make it to the final on February 11, he could potentially miss up to six games for United, including the FA Cup third-round tie against Wigan Athletic. However, reports suggest that Onana is attempting to delay his call-up in order to participate in the FA Cup match against Wigan.
During a press conference, Ten Hag addressed the situation and revealed that discussions are ongoing with not only Cameroon but also with Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco and Hannibal Mejbri of Tunisia. The manager emphasized the importance of maintaining good relationships with all federations involved.
In addition to the discussions about Onana’s call-up, Ten Hag also mentioned that he has yet to speak with Sir Jim Ratcliffe following INEOS’ recent acquisition of a 25% stake in Manchester United. However, he expressed his anticipation for future conversations and stated that both parties are eager to work together.
Ten Hag emphasized his focus on the upcoming game and stated that he wants to avoid distractions at the moment. He believes that the partnership with INEOS is a positive development and looks forward to collaborating with them.
Regardless of ownership changes, Ten Hag stressed the importance of maintaining a winning culture at Manchester United. The team is currently in seventh place in the Premier League table after 19 games played in the 2023-24 season.
In related news, Ten Hag recently named five Manchester United players who are expected to return in January. Dimitar Berbatov also shared his opinion on the midfielder that Sir Jim Ratcliffe should consider signing as his first acquisition for the club.
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