Man United, Cameroon agree late AFCON release for Onana – source

Andre Onana is expected to be available for Manchester United's Premier League match against Tottenham after reaching an agreement with the Cameroon FA to delay his call-up before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a source has told ESPN.

Onana has been allowed to stay in Manchester for United's FA Cup third round match against Wigan Athletic on Monday and Spurs' visit to Old Trafford on January 14.

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Cameroon begins its CAN campaign against Guinea 24 hours later, on January 15. Premier League clubs were given until January 1 to release their players ahead of the tournament, which begins in Ivory Coast on January 13, but United and Cameroon reached their own arrangement.

Onana returned to Manchester on Wednesday after spending time in Paris following the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Cameroonian team is currently participating in a preparation camp in Saudi Arabia, where they are due to play a friendly match against Zambia on January 9.

Onana, according to a source, was keen to limit his time away from United after telling the club during transfer negotiations this summer that he had retired from international duty.

The goalkeeper resigned at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a disagreement with coach Rigobert Song, but was persuaded to return ahead of the final AFCON qualifier against Burundi in September.

Meanwhile, United's new minority investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe met players and staff at Carrington for the first time on Wednesday.

The INEOS chairman spoke to manager Erik ten Hag and director of football John Murtough ahead of a meeting with the first team.