Onana - 'Steel Wall' revived on the Black Sea coast

Onana is playing consistently for Trabzonspor.

From being heavily criticized for his mistakes, the Cameroonian goalkeeper is reborn strongly in Türkiye, not only with his saves, but also with the fortitude of someone who has been through hell.

The journey back

In modern football , there is no lonelier position than that of a goalkeeper. One mistake can wipe out an entire season. Onana knows that better than anyone.

He was once a beacon of confidence at Ajax, but at Manchester United things quickly fell apart. From silly goals conceded in the Champions League to being stripped of his starting spot, Onana became the epitome of the chaos of the “Red Devils” after Ten Hag.

During those days, he was booed, scrutinized, and considered an “expensive disappointment”. But instead of giving up, Onana chose to quietly leave, to a place with less lights, but quiet enough to start over. Trabzon, a city on the Black Sea, became his place of rebirth.

At Trabzonspor, Onana has become less of a target for criticism and more of a pillar of support for the team. In the 2-0 win over Eyüpspor, he was a real “steel wall”: four saves in a row, and an ability to initiate attacks with 86% accuracy. Onana not only kept a clean sheet, but also re-enacted the confident, calm and creative Onana he had been when he was dominating in Amsterdam.

Turkish fans love Onana passionately. They call him “The Wall”, and that nickname echoes in every stadium Trabzonspor plays in. In a country where football is a religion, a foreigner like Onana wins the hearts of the audience, not because he is perfect, but because he knows how to get up after defeat.

Onana disappointed at MU, but revived his form in Türkiye.

Onana’s impressive form is more than just a statistic. It’s a testament to his inner growth. After all, he understands that composure is a goalkeeper’s greatest strength.

Against Gaziantep, Onana made everyone take their hats off when he came out of the box and played a precise long pass for Onuachu to score, an assist reminiscent of Ederson or Neuer. It wasn’t just skill, but self-belief, something Onana had lost in England.

The Silent Leader

In the Trabzonspor dressing room, Onana is now a quiet leader. He guides the young goalkeepers, sharing his experience on how to overcome pressure.

The Turkish side are even considering keeping Onana permanently, despite his loan deal from Manchester United only running until June 2026 and without a buyout clause. With a limited budget, keeping Onana is a big challenge, but the board believe he is worth every penny, not just for his talent, but for the spirit he brings.

In England, the echoes of Onana’s failure have not faded. Peter Schmeichel once said bluntly: “A goalkeeper should help the team win points, not cost them points. Onana made too many mistakes.” But it was those mistakes that taught him how to get up. In Türkiye, Onana is no longer a burden, he is an example of determination.

Onana still wants to return to wear MU shirt.

Onana’s story reminds us that in football, no one is perfect forever. Mistakes are part of the job of goalkeeper, but what makes the difference is how people react. In Manchester, he crumbled under the pressure of Old Trafford. In Trabzon, he was reborn in the simple love of the crowd.

Now, when the chant of “The Wall” rings out at Medical Park Stadium, people see not just a goalkeeper keeping a clean sheet, but a man who has conquered himself. Onana did not need to return to the Premier League to prove his worth, he did it with heart, with desire, and with the composure of someone who had stepped out of the shadows.

Amidst the windy sky on the Black Sea coast, the “Steel Wall” stands tall, as proof that no one can truly fall if they still believe in themselves.

Source: https://znews.vn/onana-buc-tuong-thep-hoi-sinh-ben-bo-bien-den-post1598261.html