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André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
However, the Inter shot-stopper hasn’t always felt entirely in tune with his own job. “In Cameroon, normally they put the worst players in goal,” he says. “So at first I didn’t want to be a goalkeeper. But when I saw my brother playing, I started to love that position.” Once Onana was at peace with his role and made it to Europe, he signed for Barcelona aged 18. He then joined Ajax in 2015; there he won three titles and nearly reached the 2019 Champions League final.
Onana transferred to Inter last summer. “It was beautiful because you arrive in Milan and it’s amazing; the food is great – the weather and the people too.” He says that includes his team-mates, and assisting with team harmony is Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the dressing-room DJ. “He has a mix of African music, Spanish music… everything. Because when this group is in the changing room, he tries to make everyone happy.” Just as Onana tries to do with his clean sheets.
André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
However, the Inter shot-stopper hasn’t always felt entirely in tune with his own job. “In Cameroon, normally they put the worst players in goal,” he says. “So at first I didn’t want to be a goalkeeper. But when I saw my brother playing, I started to love that position.” Once Onana was at peace with his role and made it to Europe, he signed for Barcelona aged 18. He then joined Ajax in 2015; there he won three titles and nearly reached the 2019 Champions League final.
Onana transferred to Inter last summer. “It was beautiful because you arrive in Milan and it’s amazing; the food is great – the weather and the people too.” He says that includes his team-mates, and assisting with team harmony is Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the dressing-room DJ. “He has a mix of African music, Spanish music… everything. Because when this group is in the changing room, he tries to make everyone happy.” Just as Onana tries to do with his clean sheets.
André Onana has been away from Cameroon nearly half his life. He initially left the family home, aged ten, to join the Samuel Eto’o Academy; he moved to Europe four years later. “We were not used to this weather so we had a bad time,” says the 27-year-old, who swapped continents alongside fellow Eto’o academy attendees. “They tell you it’s going to be cold but you can’t imagine it’s going to be that hard.”
Onana still loves going back home but in between times he retains a link to his homeland through a powerful medium: music. “When I was driving to this interview I was listening to Les Médecins de Medelin,” he tells us. “They’re making very good music for the whole country, so we’re very proud of them.”
