Legendary former Espanyol and Cameroon goalkeeper Thomas N’Kono feels that his compatriot Andre Onana has made the right move in agreeing to join Inter next summer.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, the former keeper highlighted how the 25-year-old can continue his development in Milan.
Onana was in Milan yesterday to complete his medicals with Inter before joining up with the Cameroonian squad for the African Cup of Nations.
The 25-year-old will join Inter on a free transfer in the summer when his current deal with Ajax runs out, with the club entrusting him to be the long-term successor to captain Samir Handanovic in goal.
N’Kono feels that the Nerazzurri are the right destination for Onana at this point in his career, and looks forward to watching him develop with the club.
“Onana has made the right move,” he stated. “After Ajax he will continue to grow, now in a much more competitive and demanding league.”
“He will have to adapt and get used to a very different way of playing,” the former keeper continued, “but that’s the best thing for him, I think he has sufficient quality and experience to impose himself on this team.”
He noted that “We must not forget that he has played several seasons in the Champions League, even reaching a semi-final, which gives him the means to deal with a certain level of pressure.”
“For me he has chosen well, and he will do well,” he added.
“I don’t know exactly the project that Inter have offered him,” N’Kono went on, “but I remember that when he asked me for my opinion when he was leaving Barca to join Ajax I pushed him in that direction because I thought Jasper Cillessen would leave in a couple seasons, which he did.”
“Now I think the same will happen,” he added, referring to aging Nerazzurri Number One Samir Handanovic.
Speaking about the stylistic option that Onana offers, N’Knono remarked that “Many teams, including Inter certainly, want to build play up from the back, and Onana is excellent at this aspect.”
“There are virtually no players in his position better with the ball at their feet,” he added, “which is also an aspect in which Handanovic has improved a lot over the years.”
He predicted that “Knowing how the Italian coaches work Andre, will improve a lot between the posts and in claiming aerial balls, where he still has a level of room to grow.”
“He will become an even more complete goalkeeper at the club,” N’Knono continued. “He is a long way ahead because he has been in Europe for a very long time, he knows how to work here, he doesn’t need to adapt to a new environment, and in recent years he has accumulated a lot of experience.”
He closed by stating that “There are many reasons to think that he will be a big success with Inter and in Serie A.”
