Rio Ferdinand reacts to Everton and Manchester United transfer news on Amadou Onana
Rio Ferdinand has delivered his verdict on Manchester United’s links with signing Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, as he compared the midfielder to Marouane Fellaini.
Ferdinand spoke out on 14 August in reaction to the news that the Red Devils have opened discussions with Everton [The Guardian] over a potential move for Onana as they look to bolster their midfield this summer.
The midfielder is reported to be an option for Erik ten Hag due to his physicality, as has emerged as United struggle to make progress in their move for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, who was their priority in his position.
Ferdinand spoke on his Youtube Channel [11:58], giving his opinion on the deal and claiming: “Not for me, that. Nah. McTominay upgrade? What is he? What type of footballer is he? Onana is not a holder. He’s not a destroyer. He’s an eight. What have we got Mason Mount for?”
His co-hosts’ attempts to talk him around to the deal fell on deaf ears. Their descriptions of the midfielder’s play style as “very strong, bullies people in the midfield, it’s the strength you need,” were quickly rebuffed: “Every single attribute that he just said, that’s not Ten Hag to me.
“I think he has really good attributes, but I don’t think for Man United. It’s like Fellaini. That’s like buying Fellaini. He had great attributes, not for Man United.”
Ten Hag sees what Ferdinand doesn’t
Fortunately for Manchester United, or unfortunately for Everton, Ferdinand isn’t the head of their scouting department. Narrowing Onana’s play style down to just being a physical influence does him a huge disservice – he is a much better player than he is given credit for here.
While he absolutely is a physical monster, with great strength and the ability to dominate players in duels both aerially and on the ground, his ability with the ball at his feet is what makes him such an influential presence at Goodison Park.
His passing could do with some work, which is likely why Ferdinand has reservations as Manchester United’s new style of play revolves around quick accurate passing, but his ability to bring others into the game and lay the ball off for his teammates would prove to be a positive.
As stated by The Guardian [14 August], Ten Hag wants Onana at Old Trafford because he wants to add physicality to his midfield, so for Ferdinand to use that as a drawback to his ability seems a strange angle to take.
In other Everton news, a winner has been named in the race to sign a new striker.