Premier League leaders Arsenal missed out on the chance to sign Andre Onana and Inter Milan legend Gianluca Pagliuca believes the Tottenham Hotspur target is now worth £100 million, speaking to Sempre Inter.
In the end, Arsenal didn’t do too badly out of a saga which dragged on for much of 2021. The Gunners, per Dutch publication NOS, was ‘very close’ to swapping Ajax for the Emirates Stadium.
Onana, however, opted for Inter Milan instead some 12 months down the line. Not that many in North London will be too disappointed by how things turned out; Aaron Ramsdale blossoming under Mikel Arteta.
Few would jump at the opportunity to swap Ramsdale for Onana these days, even if the Cameroon international is going from strength to strength in his new San Siro home.
Tottenham like one-time Arsenal target Andre Onana
“Against Porto, in my opinion, he was the best player on the pitch. I really liked his performance a lot,” Pagliuca says of a man who kept clean sheets in both legs as Inter reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“The sense of security he spreads, his ball distribution, the decisive saves, especially the ones that look easy but in reality are very difficult…He really did well. He gave me a sense of security, (and) had a fantastic game.”
Inter snapped up Onana for nothing when his contract at the Eredivisie champions expired. Pagliuca, a UEFA Cup winner in 1998, believes his former employers would make a massive profit if they were to cash in on the one-time Barcelona youngster after just one season in Italy.
“If a foreign club were to arrive and offered 100 million, Inter would do well to sell him,” Pagliuca adds. “Otherwise, unless a huge offer arrives, I think Inter will keep him.”
Spurs’ new number one?
According to 90Min, Inter may cash in on Onana due to their well-publicised financial problems. Chelsea, Manchester United and a Tottenham side looking for a long-term Hugo Lloris replacement are all reportedly interested.
“Onana is in the top five of the best goalkeepers in the world,” says the legendary Oliver Kahn (BILD).
“He is agile, fast and powerful,” the former Germany international adds. “Onana is also very good with his feet and excellent in the build-up. He is a kind of mix between (Barcelona’s) Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and (Liverpool’s) Alisson Becker.
“This man can become the best if he keeps working hard.”
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