says the chance to join was ‘irresistible’ as he prepares to complete a £47m move from Inter Milan.
Erik ten Hag identified Onana, who he managed at Ajax, as his top choice to replace David de Gea as United’s No. 1.
Onana spent almost a decade at Ajax before joining Inter last summer and helping the Italian club finish third in Serie A and reach the Champions League final, which they lost to Manchester City.
Manchester United have .
Onana says he leaves Inter Milan with a heavy heart but found it impossible to turn down a move to Premier League giants United.
‘The important thing is to be honest and always tell people the truth,’ he told . ‘I am a person who always wants new challenges.
‘Playing in the Premier League and for a club like Man United is irresistible. All parties wanted this to happen.
‘But what matters is that, even if I had stayed, I would have been equally happy because I never had any problems at Inter. Indeed, a magic was born in Milan that is almost difficult to explain.’
Bidding farewell to the Inter fans, Onana added: ‘Thank you is the word I want to use. I say it to all the workers of Pinetina and of the company, to the managers, to the president, to the coach, to the comrades.
‘But above all to the fans. I felt that they really loved me. I played in Milan for a year, but I’ll be an Interista forever. Now I’ll cheer in front of the TV.
‘I wish Inter to win the Scudetto that we missed right away. I know how much everyone wants the second star, I hope the time has come to put it on their chests.’
Manchester United have a long history of iconic goalkeepers, with Onana following in the footsteps of De Gea, Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.
De Gea spent over 12 years at Old Trafford, making 545 appearances and keeping a club-record 190 clean sheets after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Spaniard following a mixed season in which he won the Golden Glove award but was criticism for several high-profile mistakes.
Asked how it feels to join a club who have had several all-time great goalkeepers, Onana said: ‘To be chosen to continue this tradition makes me proud and responsible: I want to win trophies with my new companions.’
Onana also claimed Inter Milan ‘deserved’ to win the Champions League final in June, which .
‘We were close to touching it, we deserved it,’ he said. ‘We played against City head-on, only details were missing, but this is football.
‘Personally, I hope to win the Champions League with United, but I also hope that Inter replay a final and win it.
‘All the fans deserve it, both those who came to Istanbul who made us play as if we were at home, and those who pushed and will continue to push from outside.’
Onana will become Ten Hag’s second signing of the summer following England midfielder Mason Mount. United are .
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