Barcelona have set sights on Ajax shot stopper
By Zoheb Alam
Barcelona have two solid keepers in their ranks as they have the services of Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Neto. The former has although been the first-choice keeper for the Catalan side as he has been rock-solid between the sticks. Over the years, the German shot-stopper has put up commendable performances in the Barca shirt and now has become an ‘indispensable’ member of the side.
But on the other hand, it seems that the Blaugrana outfit is considering bringing in another goalkeeper to their roster. According to new reports, the La Liga giants are willing to sign Andre Onana from Ajax.
The Cameroonian keeper was a former member of the famous La Masia academy but was unable to break into the Barcelona first-team. However, a move to Ajax in 2016 turned to be decisive in his career as he not only received regular game-time in a top-tier club but also managed to build his reputation as a top keeper in the Eredivisie.
Sources in Italy have revealed that Serie A giants Inter Milan are keeping tabs on the 25-year-old and are probably ‘favorites’ to land the Ajax star. But at the same time, it is important to remember that the player has previously expressed his interest to return to Barcelona. Back in May 2020, the Ajax star refused to rule out a move to the Catalan side. In an interview, Onana said:
"As I said earlier, Barca is my home. If I have to go back, I will go back. But today we are still far from it. I’m the Ajax goalkeeper and we’ll see what happens at the end of the season."
Currently, the Cameroonian keeper has been banned from football after he tested positive for a banned substance. For now, the Ajax star has returned to training but will be permitted to make a full-fledged return after November 3.
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Will Barcelona make a move for Onana?
For the ongoing season, it seems that Barcelona might not make a move for the player in the upcoming winter window. But chances are that the Blaugrana outfit will look to make a bid for the keeper next summer as his contract expires after the end of this season. The 25-year-old is yet to sign an extension and hence the Catalan side will likely try to convince the star to join Camp Nou as a free agent next June.