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Andre Onana discusses his decision to wear the number 24 at Man United.
Andre Onana gave an explanation for why he selected the number 24 shirt at Manchester United, saying he chose it because it commemorates his birthday.
Onana’s transfer to Man Utd was formally announced on July 20 after the Red Devils agreed to pay Inter £47.61 million for his services. The goalkeeper then signed a five-year contract with the club, with an additional year’s option.
Onana was anticipated to inherit the valued shirt after David de Gea’s contract at Old Trafford expired. Surprisingly, though, the Cameroonian instead chose to choose the number 24 at Old Trafford.
Explaining the decision to MUTV, Onana said: “I just like that number. It’s my birthday. My date of birth. For me it’s great, it’s beautiful.
“I like this shirt because [in] this shirt, this number we have done a lot and I hope it will continue.”
Onana wore the number 24 jersey during his time at Inter, with Samir Handanovic having the number one jersey, and he also donned it at Ajax too. While in Eredivisie, Onana wore the jersey when he first arrived at the club and, following a disappointing single season wearing number one in 2017/18, he reverted back to his favoured jersey number the following campaign.
In his first interview at Manchester United, Onana also discussed his style of play and his first impressions of training with his new teammates: “I’m very comfortable playing from the back, but it depends.
“I think the most important thing is to recognise the situation and that’s what I do myself, read the situation, especially what the team needs in certain moments.
“When we play, depending on who we play, sometimes you have the possession and sometimes not, so from there you have to be smart and try to help the team, because most of the time playing with these players is amazing.
“I had my first training session with them and it’s just amazing the quality here, it’s great.”