The financial stakes are high: Manchester United contracts include a clause providing a 25% wage increase if the club qualifies for the Champions League, and qualification would trigger bonus payments estimated at £30m based on prior Europa League final calculations, multiple reports said. These financial implications add pressure as the season reaches its climax, with the club aiming to secure a top-five finish to avoid missing out on the lucrative competition. The race remains tight, with several teams vying for the remaining spots, and United's upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining their fate.
Meanwhile, Andre Onana, on loan at Trabzonspor after making a single first-team appearance for Manchester United this season, has started 26 times for the Turkish side, who are third in the league. Reports claim Manchester United have already decided to sell Onana at the end of the season, and Trabzonspor are believed to have an option to sign him permanently in the summer. Onana's future remains uncertain, with his loan spell in Turkey providing him with regular playing time but his long-term prospects at Old Trafford appearing bleak.
I worked with Andre Onana for three or four years at Ajax. He came in as a third-choice goalkeeper and was very eager to step up and become the first choice. I thought, and I still think, that he has tremendous qualities – reflections and his feet – but somehow, he has the odd mistake in him that makes you think 'That's crazy, how can he do that.'
Marcus Rashford is on loan at Barcelona after being placed in Ruben Amorim's 'bomb squad' and told to train separately, according to multiple reports. He has started 15 times, made 11 substitute appearances, and scored six goals in La Liga for Barcelona, showing signs of rediscovering his form away from Manchester. Edwin van der Sar, former Manchester United goalkeeper and Ajax CEO, said he believes Onana has 'tremendous qualities' but made 'crazy' mistakes at United.
According to van der Sar, he understands why United decided to move Onana on due to instability at the club. Van der Sar also praised United's new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, signed for £18m, saying he looks confident and handles the physicality of the Premier League well.
A team wants stability, to know what your goalkeeper is doing so the back four can relate and I think that's what happened [the issue] with Andre. Manchester United haven't had stability for the last six or seven years – the back four changing, the centre-halves and midfielders changing, coaches changing – so, it's difficult for new players to come into an environment where the expectations are high, not only for goalkeepers but also for a winger or midfielder.
I absolutely thought that he would succeed when he first came here to United. As I said, I worked with him and saw him at Ajax, he did well in Italy and played in a Champions League final, so I thought it was a match made in heaven.
He's doing well. It certainly looks like he knows the physicality of the Premier League – I see him coming for balls in the penalty spot and he claims them with confidence, makes saves when needed, not looking