It has not been a straightforward ride for Andre Onana. Far from it, in fact.
Banned in 2021 for 12 months for doping, after mistakenly taking his wife's medicine, Ajax, Onana's employers at the time, had hoped for a shorter time out for their goalkeeper. However, that was not the case with UEFA taking a strict approach to proceedings, despite accepting that there had been no attempt from the goalkeeper to circumvent the rules. Onana joined Inter Milan on a free transfer in 2022 – and the Cameroonian has not looked back since.
Saturday evening saw Onana go all so close to reaching the very pinnacle of football but his brave Inter side were beaten 1-0 by clear favourites Manchester City. If it wasn't for Onana, though, it would have been far more comfortable for Pep Guardiola's men.
The 90 minutes in Turkey was a reminder – if at all needed – why the 27-year-old is one of the most coveted goalkeepers in European football at the moment. His shot-stopping is brilliant but it's his work on the ball that stands out more than most in his position.
Despite Man City's fierce and relentless press, Onana was comfortable carrying the ball out and looking for the risky pass that would eventually see his Inter side get on the front foot. It is a dangerous tactic to allow the goalkeeper to do this, but when they are as strong in possession as the Cameroon international, it is a really effective tool to have.
Man City themselves have arguably the very best at doing this in Ederson but on Saturday night, Onana definitely showed the world of football just how useful he can be. It's something Chelsea want and definitely need.
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Right now, the Blues have Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy to choose from, with both goalkeepers doing very little to establish themselves as the No.1 in that position. Kepa played the majority of the recently-concluded 2022/23 season following a rough start to the term for Mendy. The Spaniard, while impressing on occasions, still didn't do enough to really assert his dominance and that's why Chelsea are in the market for another goalkeeper.
Onana is one of those being looked at by the club. The Cameroonian is someone who has been on the radar of Chelsea ever since he was at Ajax and Roman Abramovich was the owner at Stamford Bridge. Inter are reluctant to sell Onana and by all accounts he sounds very happy at the San Siro but Chelsea are weighing up their options.
"I'm so, so happy at Inter. At this professional level, you never know what happens," Onana said after the Champions League final. "I'm available for Inter, they decide and I will accept what they want. I'm happy at Inter."
Similar comments were said by his agent recently. "Transfer market rumours are normal at this stage, but I prefer not to talk about it because it's very early and now the boy is focused only on the pitch," Albert Botines, the goalkeeper's agent, said to TV Play in Italy. "We have a five-year contract with Inter. He has another four years on his contract and now he is focused only on the Serie A final and the Champions League final.
"He still has a long contract, don't worry. He is very happy, he is playing for the strongest team in Italy."
David Raya and Mike Maignan are also being looked at but a move for the latter is seen as a tough deal to strike with AC Milan. Mauricio Pochettino begins his role as head coach at the start of next month and bringing in a new goalkeeper, someone who can be called Chelsea's No.1, will surely be right at the top of his ever-growing and substantial to-do list.
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