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Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who has endured a difficult spell at Old Trafford, is reportedly set to enjoy significant financial benefits off the pitch following his loan move to Turkish club Trabzonspor.

When United decided to pursue Onana in 2023, the plan was to bring in one of Europe’s most accomplished ball-playing goalkeepers to help the team dominate possession. Having impressed at Inter Milan, the Cameroon international was praised by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as “exceptional” before the Champions League final that year.

Although City narrowly won the final 1-0, Inter outperformed them for long periods, with Onana’s distribution and composure under pressure proving pivotal. Erik ten Hag, who had previously managed Onana at Ajax, was eager to reunite with him to elevate United’s playing style.

However, the £47.2 million transfer quickly turned into one of the most disappointing deals of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. A series of costly errors saw the 30-year-old lose his starting place under new manager Ruben Amorim.

Initially, Portuguese coach Amorim preferred Altay Bayindir, but the Turkish international also struggled to impress. This prompted United to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day after his highly rated debut season in Belgium.

With Onana slipping to third choice, he pushed for an exit. By that time, the summer transfer window had closed across most of Europe, leaving the Turkish Super Lig as one of the few viable destinations. Trabzonspor eventually secured his services on a season-long loan.

In Türkiye, Onana rediscovered his form, helping the club achieve a third-place finish ahead of Besiktas and lifting the Turkish Cup after a 2-1 victory over Konyaspor in the final.

Although Trabzonspor were eager to extend his stay, United initially sought a permanent sale, which proved financially difficult. A change of stance later saw INEOS approve another loan deal, allowing the goalkeeper to remain at Papara Park.

According to reports, Trabzonspor are paying the majority of Onana’s wages, while United receive a £1.3 million loan fee comprised mainly of performance-related bonuses, meaning Trabzonspor must enjoy a strong campaign for the full amount to be triggered.

INEOS reportedly viewed this as a necessary compromise to mitigate past transfer misjudgments. On a personal level, however, Fabrizio Romano reports that Onana has profited handsomely from the arrangement.

The Italian transfer specialist claims that with his combined salary from both United and Trabzonspor, along with bonuses from the Turkish club, Onana now ranks among the “world’s top ten best paid goalkeepers.”

One major obstacle United faced in trying to sell Onana was his salary increase clause, which was triggered by the club’s qualification for the Champions League – an achievement he played no part in. This has made him one of the world’s best-paid goalkeepers despite contributing little on the pitch.

Although Onana was reportedly open to a fresh start under new manager Michael Carrick, neither the 44-year-old nor the club’s hierarchy expressed interest in bringing him back. As a result, he remains one of the highest earners at Old Trafford but will not feature in any matches for United next season.

Ultimately, Onana’s situation stands as a costly mistake for Manchester United — a relic of the past with no future at the club.