Amadou Onana of Aston Villa May Not Be the Ideal Stand-in for Casemiro at Manchester United

Currently, Carrick has positioned the Red Devils in third in the Premier League, boasting a commendable six-point lead over arch-rival Liverpool, who sit in fifth, a spot that would see them qualify for the Europa League if they remain there.

United eyeing Onana

With seven matches left in the season, Manchester United’s Champions League qualification hangs in the balance, and if the Reds secure their spot, it’s hard to envision Carrick exiting the managerial seat at Old Trafford.

One player definitely not staying at the Theatre of Dreams next season is Casemiro, after the seasoned Brazilian revealed that the 2025/26 season will mark his final campaign with the club.

Given this situation, reports suggest that United have been monitoring Aston Villa’s strong defensive midfielder, Amadou Onana.

The 24-year-old has been integral to Unai Emery’s squad since transferring from Everton. However, financial fair play regulations may force Villa to consider an offer from United if one materialises.

Powerful deep runs

What could Onana bring to United if acquired, especially considering the prime years of his career lie ahead?

For a player of his physical stature, having received only seven yellow cards in all competitions since joining Villa is commendable, highlighting his ability to play firmly yet fairly.

With seven goals in all competitions, his scoring record is decent, though it does fall short of Casemiro’s tally of 10 goals and four assists over a similar timeframe.

Although not a pressing concern, improvements in this area may be essential.

Clearly, United would be eager to leverage Onana’s powerful, marauding runs from deep—something that has notably faded from Casemiro’s game.

In the past two seasons, only five players at Villa have made more appearances than Onana’s 60 games in all competitions, indicating his reliable availability. However, at a decade older, Casemiro has participated in 11 more matches during the same period.

Casemiro’s exceptional statistics

Onana ranks among Villa’s top six for total passes made (2,056), with a remarkable 88.5% success rate, positioning him among the most effective within the squad.

As expected, Onana excels in one-on-one duels. Although his 457 contested duels are not the highest, his 63.9% success rate is only surpassed by Ezri Konsa, who has taken almost 100 fewer attempts.

Only Ollie Watkins has engaged in more aerial duels than Onana’s 134, while Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash have made more tackles than Onana’s 118.

In total, Casemiro has delivered 3,125 passes—over a thousand more than Onana—with a still-impressive accuracy of 81.6%.

Casemiro’s tally of 668 one-on-one duels is over 200 more than Onana’s, with a success rate of 56.9%. His 206 aerial duels, which surpass Onana’s efforts by 72, are bettered only by Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire within United.

Overall, Casemiro has outperformed Onana in a multitude of aspects, underscoring how significant the gap would be if Onana is to be viewed as a suitable successor.

The pressure of performing for Manchester United

It’s crucial to remember that Casemiro has excelled during one of the club’s most turbulent periods, all while facing immense pressure.

The stature of Manchester United cannot be overstated; many players underestimate the enormous responsibility that comes with wearing the iconic shirt.

For Onana, there will not only be an urgent need to elevate his performance across all areas of his game, but he will also be expected—due to his age and trajectory—to surpass Casemiro’s existing statistics.

Even though transfer fees can be burdensome, it won’t be Onana’s fault if Villa demands a significant increase on the £50 million they invested in him. That could prove to be a hefty weight to carry if the early phase of the 2026/27 season does not go as planned should Manchester United decide to pursue his signing this summer.