Inter-bound goalkeeper Andre Onana has revealed that he had wanted to extend his contract with current club Ajax in the past, but that he felt their offers were not high enough.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf in an interview published in today’s print edition, the 25-year-old explained the circumstances that led to him deciding to leave the Dutch champions at the end of the season.
Onana is all set for a move to the Nerazzurri, with the Cameroonian having been identified by the club as the long-term successor to Samir Handanovic in goal and having already undergone his medicals for the move.
It has long been known that the keeper will not renew his contract with Ajax which is set to expire at the end of June, so he will be available on a free transfer for Inter.
The situation with Onana at Ajax has been a complicated one due to the player’s one-year doping suspension, whilst he feels that the club did not do enough to convince him to stay on with their offers.
“The fact that I haven’t reached an agreement with Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars doesn’t mean that I do not love the club and that I will not give my whole heart,” he said.
“I wanted to extend my contract in 2019, shortly after signing an agreement until summer of 2022, during my doping ban,” the keeper continued.
“Ajax didn’t have to accept the extension three years ago because it would have been the right time to give me the right price,” he went on.
“Then, during my suspension, we had five or six conversations at the Amsterdam Arena,” the keeper added. “We didn’t agree on the salary because Ajax offered me half my salary, but that wasn’t the only thing I wasn’t happy with.”
“It still hurts,” Onana reflected, :but I want the Ajax fans to know the truth.”
