Amadou Onana is likely to miss the chance to impress against Manchester United with the Everton midfielder injured ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash.
Regardless of whether or not Casemiro joins the ever-growing collection of fading superstars in Saudi Arabia, the need for a long-term replacement has been quite brutally exposed in recent weeks.
The former Real Madrid enforcer, even before being ruled out until 2024, was a shadow of the player who made such an impression during his debut season at Manchester United, Casemiro’s age and the sheer ridiculous amount of games he has had to contend with over the course of the last decade catching up to the Brazil international.
Manchester United like Everton’s Amadou Oanna
With United travelling to the growling bear pit that is Goodison Park on Sunday, Amadou Onana had the ideal chance to show the Red Devils why he should be their top choice to take over from Casemiro in the centre of Erik ten Hag’s midfield.
Or, at least, he would have.
Barring a remarkable change of events, Onana will be missing for this weekend’s clash.
Sean Dyche confirms via the Liverpool Echo that the £33 million Belgium international is still suffering the after-effects of a calf strain, thus scuppering what may have been a United audition for one of Europe’s most exciting, most complete central midfield talents (Daily Mail).
“(Onana is) a unique profile,” former Everton and now Belgium boss Roberto Martinez told Het Laatste Niuews back in 2022, including the former Lille starlet in his squad for the Qatar World Cup.
“Someone with such physical presence and dynamism is needed, just think of (ex-Man United powerhouse Marouane) Fellaini in 2018. He is also a leader on the pitch who has made strides in his career.
“It is refreshing to see someone with his qualities.”
Casemiro replacement?
That Fellaini comparison may send shivers down the spine of Man United supporters but worry not, Onana’s technical qualities are as evident as his physical gifts, the barnstorming Belgian possessing a touch and a guile which belies his 6ft 4ins frame.
Fluminense’s Andre Trindade is another midfield option. A team-mate of Casemiro at international level, Andre is expected to join Fulham instead however.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/GABPjfX