Why Inter Milan sold Andre Onana to Manchester United
Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has admitted that the Italian club found it impossible to keep hold of Andre Onana after Manchester United registered their interest in his signature last month.
After United confirmed that David de Gea would leave the club they immediately installed Onana as their top target to replace him. The Cameroonian had worked with Reds boss Erik ten Hag previously at Ajax.
Onana, 27, is considered to be one of the best ball-playing goalkeepers in the world, meaning it was immediately understandable why Ten Hag wanted him to become United's new No.1. He was identified as the ideal replacement for De Gea and would help revolutionise United's style of play.
Onana had only joined Inter 12 months prior to United going in search of his signature, joining the club on a free transfer and signing a five-year deal. He excelled in his only season at the San Siro, helping the club win two trophies and reach the Champions League final.
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Despite those successes, the opportunity to join United and be reunited with Ten Hag was just too good an opportunity for the Cameroonian to turn down. It was also an opportunity, according to Marotta, for the goalkeeper to double his wages and for Inter to generate a tidy sum of money.
"When a player is requested by a richer club, it's difficult to keep him," Marotta told Radio Serie A. "It's not possible for Italian clubs to turn down certain sums.
"Onana had arrived on a free transfer from a great club and left for more than €50million while doubling his wages. We couldn't
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