Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana has said that Inter is a great club and that he respects Samir Handanovic whilst still wanting to be ahead of him, according to a report in the Italian broadcast media.

Speaking during an interview with DAZN, via FCInter1908, the Cameroonian goalkeeper started off by reflecting on how he is settling into the club now that pre-season is in full swing with all of his teammates.

“The first few days went well, I learned a lot. I am very happy to be here at this club, very close to the players. Everything is going very well. I’ve been to Barcelona, to Amsterdam: being here I’ve noticed that there are different things but also similar things to Spain.

“The most different one is the training of the goalkeepers, here I am enjoying it a lot. Here you see football in a different way, there is another way of thinking and that will help me a lot.”

He then was quick to point out the size of the club that he is joining, although having played for Barcelona and Ajax he is used to prominent teams.

“Inter is a great club: from the moment I spoke to Ausilio right away he gave me his word and he kept it. The speech he gave me touched me and I was very happy.

“I already knew Inter because of Eto’o, I spoke to him and he told me that this is the right club for me, with ambitions and always aiming to win: he told me that I am a winner and it is the right club for me.”

One of the topics that Andre Onana was asked about was the changing role of the goalkeeper in modern football and what he thinks about it.

“It’s not wrong because in the last 20 years it’s the role that has changed the most: now modern goalkeepers take more risks, with their feet and with their hands, stepping out of their comfort zone.

“Every goalkeeper is different, every club has its own way of playing and its own history and looks for the most suitable goalkeeper. I think I’m a goalkeeper who takes a lot of risks, I like to go out and play with my feet and seeing how my teammates play I think I’m in the right club to learn, grow and improve as a man too.

“We goalkeepers have to make decisions: sometimes you make mistakes, you have to decide whether to go out or not, but it’s part of growing.

“The most important thing is to recognise situations: with the quality we have in front of us with Lautaro, Correa, it’s fortunate to be able to count on these players and if I have the opportunity I will try to play directly with them.”

Andre Onana recently had nine months out of the game due to a doping violation which he still maintains his innocence over. He opened up about that time.

“These nine months have been difficult for me, my family and those who know me: we’re talking about a guy who has no vices and is going through a difficult time, but it’s been the best gift in my life because in difficult moments you learn a lot and I’ve learnt a lot, realising how difficult life is and I’ve learnt that life or football isn’t just the pitch, it’s a lot of things outside that don’t depend on us and you’re alone and people change towards you, some friends leave when things don’t go well.

“What happened to me was useful. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me, I’ve learnt a lot as a man and now I can appreciate more who was always there for me at all times.”

One player that Andre Onana is clearly very happy to be working with at Inter is Romelu Lukaku he says is a great player.

“Lukaku is a great player, he wrote the history of this club: he did important things for this great family, he’s a wonderful person, I’m happy to share the dressing room with him.

“We trained in Sardinia, but we were already together in Miami, we trained there too but we couldn’t post anything because his move wasn’t official yet.

“We were there and we were waiting for Inter to make it official but we were already training together. In Sardinia we prepared for the season by challenging each other with penalties and punishments, we had a lot of fun.”

Andre Onana is expected to battle with Samir Handanovic for the number one spot in gal and he has been clear that he is aiming to make the place his rather than share it.

“Handanovic is a great goalkeeper, he’s done a lot for this club, he’s the captain: I have to respect him because he’s done a lot. But I came here to play and respect the coach’s choices: in the end he decides and we have to listen to him.

“If he decides it’s better to start with him it’s fine, the important thing is that the group wins. I’m happy to have arrived in a healthy group: if I have to sit on the bench, I’ll sit quietly and cheer from there.

“It’s a competitive league, but the most important thing is to focus on us and not look at the others: if we are well we can win, I don’t think about the opponents.”