With the departure of Jasper Cillessen, young Cameroonian André Onana became the first choice goalkeeper for the season. What seemed like a temporary solution until the full recovery of experienced loanee Tim Krul now looks like a permanent resolution as the 20 year old has become a force to be reckoned with between the Ajax posts. NOS talked to the youngster about his career in Amsterdam and his time in Barcelona.
Onana remembers joining Barcelona’s youth system upon being spotted in the Samuel Eto’o Academy. He spent five years in Catalunia and thinks he was very lucky to have made the transition to a big team in Spain at such a young age. Ultimately, André chose to leave the Blaugranas for Ajax, as he considers it the best place for a young player like him to grow.
He recalls being regarded as the best young keeper in Barcelona, and leaving everyone in Catalunia a bit mad when he departed for the Netherlands, but he thinks playing for a young team such as Ajax was a good decision.
All smiles, Onana does not fear the competition in nearly recovered Tim Krul, an experienced shotstopper with 8 national team caps. “It’s a good competition. I don’t think about Tim Krul, I know Ajax’s first team has three keepers and everybody has to work hard to get to play on the weekend. The most important part is if the team wins,” he says.