Manchester United should have stuck with David de Gea for another season, according to Ben Foster, who has raised doubts over their decision to sign Andre Onana.
Erik ten Hag moved quickly to replace De Gea after the Spaniard failed to agree terms on a new contract.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who recorded a record-breaking 190 clean sheets in 545 appearances during a 12-year spell at Old Trafford, said it was the “right time to undertake a new challenge” following his exit.
But many were still unhappy with the way his departure was handled, including Wrexham goalkeeper Foster.
“I didn’t like the manner in which David de Gea left, I really didn’t,” he said earlier this month. “Considering what David has done for Manchester United over the years he deserved more respect.
“Football is cut-throat. Sometimes you get players who will angle for more money or a bigger contract. And then the fans pile in and give them dog’s abuse. But with De Gea he’s given Manchester United over ten years of service and has won the Player of the Year multiple times.
“He’s been incredible and the way they dealt with his exit was disappointing.”
Speaking to The United Stand, he said: “Personally, I would have stuck with David for another season. He had that year extension so he could have stayed. £47m could have been better spent elsewhere. But it is what it is, we have to move forward and it is probably a good signing.
“David has done such a good job because there is so much pressure and expectation when you play in goal for United. It’s a really hard job. If you can guarantee a 6/10 or 7/10 [performance] every week like David did, that is worth its weight in gold.
“Onana is a very confident player, I’ve seen him doing Cruyff turns and this kind of stuff. But it will only take one or two for him to get caught out. Then it makes you start thinking maybe you shouldn’t do that. Hopefully he hits the ground running but it’s not as easy as that sometimes.”
Foster did, however, praise Onana’s technical abilities, although he raised questions over whether the United backline will be able to handle such an intense playing-style.