Amadou Onana has delivered a glowing verdict on his Belgium teammate Senne Lammens, insisting the Manchester United shot stopper has the potential to become one of the best in the world.
The pair started together for the Red Devils on Saturday as they hammered the United States 5-2 in a World Cup warm up friendly, with Lammens earning just his second senior cap.
It has been a remarkable rise for the 23 year old, who was thrust into the limelight at Old Trafford earlier this season after a crisis between the sticks left Ruben Amorim with little choice but to dip into the market.
Now, with the international break offering a moment of calm, Onana has lifted the lid on exactly what makes his compatriot so special.
“For Senne, the sky is the limit,” the Aston Villa midfielder told The Athletic. “He has every possible attribute to be one of the best ‘keepers of the future. His future is very bright. I think it depends on him, really.”
It is high praise from a player who knows a thing or two about handling pressure in the Premier League.
Onana went on to single out the one quality that sets Lammens apart from the rest, a composure that borders on the supernatural for a man so young.
“His best quality is his calmness,” he added. “He just inspires you as a player, because seeing him on the ball, how calm and quiet he is, composed, that helps the defence, helps the midfield, and helps the team.
“I’m very glad we have him. I’ve obviously been following his games at United. He’s doing brilliantly well, especially after he had people doubting him when he came in. I am very pleased for him.”
Those doubts were understandable given the chaotic circumstances of his arrival.
Lammens was not even in the building when the season started. But after Andre Onana’s calamitous display away to Grimsby in the League Cup, a performance that effectively ended his United career and a string of unconvincing showings from Altay Bayindir, the club acted decisively on deadline day.
The young Belgian was brought in, and within days, the other Onana was shipped out on loan to Trabzonspor. It was brutal, but it worked.
Lammens has been a mainstay ever since his debut in a home win over Sunderland on October 4, bringing a sense of security to a defence that had looked anything but secure.
Now, the focus turns to the summer. INEOS are expected to facilitate the arrival of another shot stopper to act as backup, with both Bayindir and Andre Onana set to be sold permanently, much to the latter’s disappointment.
There has been a clamour among fans to retain current loanee Radek Vitek, who has impressed at Bristol City. But the young Czech recently hinted he has no desire to play second fiddle, speaking out to insist he needs regular football wherever he goes next.
That leaves Lammens firmly established as the No.1 heading into next season. And if Onana’s verdict is anything to go by, United may have finally found the man to solve a position that has been a problem for far too long.
