“BREAKING NEWS: André Onana reveals he will never forgive Rúben Amorim for what the coach said to him before his departure from Manchester United — the words haunt him and are affecting his mental health.”
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In an emotionally charged revelation, André Onana has opened up about a deeply personal issue: what his former manager Rúben Amorim said to him before he left Manchester United. According to Onana, the comment has stuck with him ever since — it “keeps repeating” in his head each and every day, and he says it’s begun to affect his mental health in a serious way.
What Onana claims happened
Onana alleges that prior to his move away from United (to loan with Trabzonspor), Amorim made a remark which Onana found deeply hurtful and which he says betrayed a lack of respect or proper approach. While the exact words have not been publicly confirmed, Onana’s tone leaves no doubt: he felt wronged, demeaned, or undervalued — and he has told media that he “will never forgive” the comment.
In his own words (paraphrased): “It wasn’t just about football. What was said to me before I left is still in my head. It affects how I sleep, how I train, how I feel.”
Such a disclosure from a player of Onana’s calibre — a goalkeeper once seen as one of the top in Europe — shines a light not just on footballing issues, but on interpersonal dynamics and respect in the dressing-room.
Why this matters
Player welfare & mental health: The admission that a coach’s remark is troubling Onana’s mental health is significant. It highlights the human side of football — beyond statistics and on-pitch performance — and raises questions about how clubs and staff manage sensitive communication.
Club culture & leadership: For United and Amorim, the story poses reputational and strategic challenges. If a leading first-team player feels alienated or disrespected by the manager, it signals possible cultural or relational issues within the squad.
Onana’s value & exit: Onana’s departure from United — first through under-performance, then through a loan to Trabzonspor — already suggested things were not well between player and club. This new revelation gives deeper context: the rift may have been personal as much as tactical or performance-based.
Implications for Amorim: As manager, Amorim remains responsible not just for tactics but for managing squad morale, relationships and trust. Public disclosure of this sort poses a questioning of his approach and how he handles such matters behind closed doors.
The broader narrative of Onana’s United time
Onana joined United amid high hopes: his performances at his previous club showed top-level capability. However, his spell at United was fraught with error-prone displays, scrutiny and public criticism. In April 2025 he was dropped from the squad following two major mistakes in a draw with Olympique Lyonnais.
Amorim publicly defended him at times, but also indicated changes might be needed: “We are in the club, sometimes … you need a change.”
In short: performance issues + changing club expectations + relationship strain = an exit that may have been inevitable — but perhaps still regretted.
What the alleged comment says about club-management dynamics
When a coach says something that a player regards as “unforgivable,” it implies more than just routine criticism. Some key themes:
Respect and communication: Players expect honest feedback, but also respect. If a remark is perceived as condescending, undermining or delivered in poor tone, it can damage trust.
Timing & context: This comment came before Onana’s departure. That means it may have been a tipping point rather than a simple footnote. Perhaps it was signalling a decision already made or revealing frustration on the manager’s part — but the way it was communicated left the player hurt.
Mental burden: The fact Onana says it “keeps repeating in my head” suggests lingering psychological impact. That means even if he’s moved on in terms of club, the effect is ongoing.
Leadership accountability: Managers must balance honesty with empathy. Public disclosures like this force clubs to reflect on how they manage internal conflicts and player exits.
Potential consequences for United and Amorim
Reputation: Word of this kind of public hurt can affect how incoming players perceive the club: are they entering an environment of trust or tension?
League performance & squad unity: If players feel undervalued, morale drops. Football is performance-driven but also relationship-driven. A fragmented dressing-room is harder to motivate at the highest level.
Managerial scrutiny: Amorim’s leadership style may come under closer examination. Critics may argue this is symptom of a wider issue rather than an isolated incident — especially given United’s recent struggles.
Player exits & transitions: How United handle departures now may be influenced by this story. They may need to adopt clearer communication strategies to avoid similar fall-outs.
What we don’t know
The exact wording of Amorim’s remark was not made public by Onana (at least not in the sources we reviewed).
We don’t have confirmation from United or Amorim about the comment — the story is driven by Onana’s account.
The precise timeline: while Onana’s exit and the remark seem connected, we don’t have a detailed sequence of conversations from the club’s side.
The interplay with performance: Onana’s under-performance at United is well documented; this remark might be a result of that rather than the sole cause of his departure. Distinguishing cause and effect is challenging.
Final thoughts
André Onana’s revelation adds a poignant, human layer to a club-player split. It reminds us that in elite football, behind every decision, transfer, loan-move or drop lies a human story — of relationships, words, pride and well-being.
For Manchester United and Rúben Amorim, the incident is a lesson: managing a squad at this level is more than picking tactics — it’s about managing people, respect, communication and transition. Onana may move on, but the impression of how he felt in that moment lingers.
For Onana himself, there is the burden of the remark repeating in his head; he says it affects his mental health. That’s a stark reminder that professional athletes are not immune to emotional and psychological trauma — especially when their environment feels unsupportive.
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