Pep Guardiola talks up "exceptional" Andre Onana ahead of Manchester derby

Following the departure of David de Gea, Onana joined the Red Devils for around £45m in the summer after spending one season at Serie A giants Inter Milan.

The 27-year-old kept 19 clean sheets in 41 games for Inter across all competitions in 2022-23 and made his final appearance for the club in the Champions League final defeat to Man City in June.

Onana has since experienced a difficult start to life at Man United and has come under fire from supporters having made several mistakes, including some leading to goals conceded.

However, the Cameroon shot-stopper enjoyed a night of redemption on Tuesday as he made a number of crucial saves and kept a clean sheet in United's 1-0 Champions League group-stage win over Copenhagen, dramatically saving a last-minute penalty to keep the Red Devils' hopes of reaching the knockout rounds alive.

Onana is expected to start between the sticks for Man United in the 191st Manchester derby on Sunday, and ahead of the contest, City boss Guardiola has both praised and sympathised with the goalkeeper, who was in Barcelona's academy during the final two years of Guardiola's reign as senior manager at Camp Nou.

«I remember we have a common friend who spoke very highly of him (at Barcelona) but personally I met him in Amsterdam,» Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday.

«He's an exceptional player and now at [Man] United. Everyone needs time (to adapt to the Premier League), not just the managers but players, keepers. Everyone. Sometimes people are quicker but I have a high opinion of him as a keeper.»

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