Amadou Onana’s agent says he turned down Manchester United because they had given their word to Aston Villa
The agent of Aston Villa defensive midfielder Amadou Onana has revealed why he turned down Manchester United for the Villa Park club in the summer of 2024. Man United wanted the Belgian international, who has been described as ‘solid as a rock’, but he picked Villa ahead of the Red Devils, joining the Midlands club for £50 million from Everton. However, Onana opted against moving to the Old Trafford club because his agent had already given her word to the Villans when they were approached.
The 24-year-old has improved significantly under Unai Emery, adding goals to his game, and Man United could do with someone like him in the middle of the park. The 6ft 5in powerhouse has weighed in with six goals in 43 appearances since moving to Villa, and Red Devils head coach Ruben Amorim will be hoping to sign a player in his mould in January or next summer. Signing Onana could have made all the difference for former Man United manager Erik ten Hag, but he ended up with Manuel Ugarte, and the Uruguayan has not impressed consistently since joining the Red Devils.
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The Belgian will not be leaving Villa anytime soon, and Man United have been looking elsewhere in recent months, with Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba now their top target. They also have Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton on their radar, and more targets could emerge in the coming weeks and months as Amorim is desperate to bolster his options in the position. Casemiro has improved significantly in recent months, with the Brazilian veteran rediscovering the form which made him a star at Real Madrid. However, Man United are preparing for life without him as he turns 34 next February, and the onus is on them to get the perfect successor to him after missing out on Onana.
