Manchester United gave Andre Onana and his family 24-hour protection after the Cameroon goalkeeper’s wife was the victim of a violent street robbery.

Melanie Kamayou had her £62,000 Hermes bag and Rolex watch snatched by a robber who struck as she got out of her car at San Carlo restaurant in Alderley Edge, where she was due to have dinner with a friend.

The player’s partner sought help at a nearby petrol station and then at the restaurant, who called the police for her.

Although one man has been arrested and appeared before Chester Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Confidential understands the assailant remains at large and this is said to be causing Onana’s wife even more distress.

The player, who had just returned from international duty when the robbery occurred on March 29, has continued to play for United, but is said to be furious over the incident and determined to see the robber brought to justice.

Andre Onana with his wife Melanie Kamayou, who was the victim of a violent robbery

The couple have been given round-the-clock security by Manchester United after the incident

Ooh-bar Cantona

Fans who had gathered at one of Manchester’s biggest United pubs ahead of the derby with City on Sunday were treated to a surprise visit by a club legend.

The player in question? None other than Eric Cantona, who made an appearance at the Old Nags Head as part of a global United fanbase event.

Cantona mixed with supporters at the famous pub, which is adorned with United memorabilia as well as pictures of the city’s iconic musicians, and is hugely popular with fans.

Eric Cantona poses with the Old Nags Head landlord Sean Brett on Sunday

The pub’s landlord Sean Brett told Confidential that the Frenchman – who won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups after moving to Old Trafford from Leeds – blew a kiss to bar staff as he left to make his way to the ground.

‘He was just so cool, as you would expect,’ Brett said. ‘He had time for everyone and  even bought one of the T-shirts that we sell to support the homeless in our city. He was interested in the pub and all the pictures we have and just made everybody’s day special.

‘He only had a small beer as he was going to the game, but he even blew the bar staff a kiss on the way out! A truly lovely man.’

French faff for fans

Buckle up those fans travelling out to Lyon this week. Local authorities in France have put in place a number of restrictions on away fans that will make matchday a rather convoluted exercise before a ball has even been kicked.

Every travelling fan has been mandated to collect a stadium wristband from the Eurexpo Conference Centre – around 10km away from Lyon’s Groupama Stadium – between 5pm and kick-off on the day of the game.

In addition, only fans that take the designated ‘Shuttle 1 Stadium’ buses from Eurexpo will be granted access to the away end, a note sent round to supporters explained, which has gone down badly with fans who planned to soak up the afternoon in the city centre, some 30 minutes away from the collection point.

‘We appreciate and apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause to some of your plans,’ United’s explainer read. ‘Please be assured that the club has fought hard to reduce the impact on travelling fans, which originally involved two collection points situated across the city centre.

United will face Lyon this week for the first time in 17 years, since the 2008 Champions League last 16

‘The below protocol has been forced upon us by local authorities and follows similar protocol in place for Frankfurt and Bucharest supporters at previous Europa League fixtures this season. We must, however, relay the strong advice of the host country security and police forces and ask that you comply with their request.’

It doesn’t even end there for the hardy United fans making the trip. There is to be a planned holdback of 60 minutes before United fans are transported back to Eurexpo, again leaving them miles away from city centre accommodation.

The fun and games of a European away day…

New gig for veteran duo?

Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton have been widely tipped to join the exodus of United players leaving Old Trafford this summer, but could the two veterans be kept on in a coaching capacity?

Evans and Heaton, who both came through United’s academy and will be out of contract in the summer, could follow in the footsteps of Phil Jones by becoming coaches at Carrington once they retire. Jones has been helping out with the Under-18s for a couple of years.

Jonny Evans (right) and Tom Heaton, who both came through United’s academy and will be out of contract in the summer, could follow Phil Jones by becoming coaches at Carrington

Evans, 37, has impressed since returning to United in the summer of 2023, but has made just 12 appearances and six starts this season. Heaton, who turns 39 next week, has only played three times since returning to United in 2021.

Asked recently about the players who will become free agents on June 30 – Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen are the others – head coach Ruben Amorim said: ‘We will see. We’re thinking about next season, but we have a lot of things to do.

‘The Europa League can change a lot of things in our club, so we are focused on the present not just on the future.’

Subiabre in United’s sights

United scouts have been keeping an eye on young River Plate winger Ian Subiabre as a possible addition to the growing South American contingent at Old Trafford.

Although the interest in Subiabre is at a very early stage, both United and Arsenal are aware of the 18-year-old’s growing reputation in Argentina, where he has made 11 senior appearances for River Plate and is under contract until June 2026.

United have signed a number of South Americans in recent years, with Argentina internationals Lisandro Martinez and Alejandro Garnacho following Brazil star Casemiro to the club before Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte joined last summer.

United have already announced the signing of Paraguay Under-20s left back Diego Leon, who will move to Old Trafford from Cerro Porteno in the summer.

United scouts have been keeping an eye on young River Plate winger Ian Subiabre as a possible addition to the growing South American contingent at Old Trafford

Both United and Arsenal are aware of Subiabre’s growing reputation in Argentina, where he has made 11 senior appearances for River Plate and is under contract until June 2026

Garnacho gets Tagliafico vote

Talking of Argentines, Garnacho will be up against his compatriot Nico Tagliafico on Thursday night when United face Lyon in the quarter-finals of the Europa League at the Groupama Stadium. 

Left back Tagliafico plays behind Garnacho for the national team and is well-placed to offer an opinion on the winger, who has endured an up-and-down season at United. 

Dropped by Ruben Amorim for the Etihad derby in December, he was arguably United’s best player when Manchester City came to Old Trafford on Sunday – but only after news that his seven-bedroom house has been put up for sale, sparking rumours he is set to leave the club.

It turns out that Garnacho and his partner Eva are simply downsizing with their little boy Enzo because the player’s family, who have been living with him full-time in Manchester, have returned to Spain.

In a sneak preview of an interview with Mail Sport that will appear before the game, World Cup winner Tagliafico said: ‘I think he can still be a great star, of course. I know he has had some difficult moments under the coach, but maybe he needs more support on the pitch. Sometimes it is more about communication. When a winger is in front of me, I like to talk to them and encourage them to take on more one-on-ones or when to tuck in.

‘Maybe that’s what he needs more at United. He’s still very young, but he is dangerous and he is really fast. He has talent. There are not many like him in style now for Argentina.’

Bobby takes leads role

Bruno Fernandes led United out for Sunday’s Manchester derby alongside young Bobby Moore, who became the first-ever club mascot to use a wheelchair or powerchair.

A video of Bobby’s celebration when Fernandes scored a late penalty to win the Etihad derby in December got nearly a quarter of a million likes on Instagram.

When the United captain saw it, he invited the seven-year-old from Belfast to spend the day at Carrington on Friday and then lead the team out for the Old Trafford derby on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes led United out for Sunday’s Manchester derby alongside young Bobby Moore, who became the first-ever club mascot to use a wheelchair or powerchair

£11k derby winner

Very few people came away from Sunday’s Manchester derby with a smile on their face – but one lucky punter was an exception. The individual’s £10 bet with bookmaker William Hill netted them almost £11,000 as the final leg of a seven-way accumulator.

The bet correctly predicted seven results across five European leagues over the weekend, incredibly returning on ambitious odds of 950-1.

Chuck in the 15 per cent accumulator boost from William Hill, and the punter’s delight at the 0-0 derby at Old Trafford delivered winnings of £10,967.42.

Other winning picks alongside United’s draw with City (23/10) included Lazio winning away at Atalanta (10/3), Benfica defeating Porto (5/4) and Roma drawing with Juventus (19/10).

Drinks are on you!

Rivalry is still red hot

It may have been one of the most timid Old Trafford derbies in living memory, but the abusive chants about his mother aimed at Phil Foden and a supporter slapping Jack Grealish were reminders that the rivalry is as fierce as ever among fans.

And new research has shown that the Manchester derby is top of the table when it comes to the number of arrests made at games in England and Wales over the last five full seasons, level with the North London derby with a total of 65 arrests.

The Manchester derby is top of the table for arrests made at games in England and Wales over the last five full seasons, level with the North London derby on 65

A third of the arrests in Manchester were for public order offences, while Arsenal v Tottenham has seen 39 cases of violent disorder between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 seasons.

It’s the only time United feature on the list compiled by SeatPick, with Chelsea occupying the next three slots on the back of their games against Liverpool, Tottenham and City.

Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw comes in next with 46 after Legia fans turned up and caused chaos in Birmingham, despite being banned from their Europa Conference League clash in November 2023.

Moor to come from Jack

Jack Moorhouse’s name has cropped up in this column periodically, and he is well worthy of another mention this week following his display for United’s Under-21s on Monday night.

Confidential was in attendance to see Moorhouse produce an influential display in a 3-3 draw against Nottingham Forest. Chido Obi bagged a brace and there was a goal and assist for 17-year-old Bendito Mantato, but it was Moorhouse who caught the eye.

His ability to drive through midfield is unparalleled compared to a lot of his peers in the United academy, and we reported back in December that his display at Carrington against Southampton caught Ruben Amorim’s eye.

Jack Moorhouse’s ability to drive through midfield is unparalleled compared to a lot of his peers in the United academy

There is growing confidence behind the scenes at United that the 19-year-old is in line to make his first-team debut before the end of the season

We understand that there have already been enquiries from multiple EFL League One and Two clubs keen on taking him on loan next season.

But there is growing confidence behind the scenes at United that the 19-year-old is in line to make his first-team debut before the end of the season.

Moorhouse was on the bench for the trip to Tottenham, as well as the home game against Arsenal, but never made it onto the pitch.

It was also pointed out by sources that Moorhouse is a prime contender to feature on both the post-season tour in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, as well as the pre-season tour in the United States, in a bid to state his claims to Amorim.

Edwin back in town

Spotted arriving into Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport on Friday was former United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

The Dutch legend is no stranger to the UK, where he played 420 times for United and Fulham, and was last seen making a half-time appearance on the pitch at Craven Cottage when the two clubs met in January.

Van der Sar, 54, has been out of the public eye since leaving his post as Ajax CEO in May 2023, two months before suffering a brain haemorrhage from which he has fully recovered.

But with United choosing not to replace Dan Ashworth at the moment after he was sacked as sporting director in December, they could do far worse than tap into Van der Sar’s wealth of experience and global network of contacts.

With United choosing not to replace Dan Ashworth at the moment, they could do far worse than tap into Edwin van der Sar’s wealth of experience and global network of contacts

Mitchell in the job market

Out of work since he was sacked by United in October, Erik ten Hag set tongues wagging when he turned up for Roma’s draw with Juventus in the Italian capital on Sunday.

But what of Ten Hag’s No 2 Mitchell van der Gaag, who left United last summer in search of a managerial job in the wake of the FA Cup final win over Manchester City?

Nine months later, Van der Gaag is still weighing up his options after turning down two offers from Holland in the hope that another opportunity might come up here.

‘I’m open for everything,’ says the 53-year-old. ‘There are lots of coaches out there, but hopefully someone thinks I fit and I’ll think the same.

‘For me, England is football. In our second year at United not everything was positive, and the supporters were not happy, and they had the right to be not happy. But they never booed. You have an unbelievable culture of football here.’

Mitchell van der Gaag (left) left United last summer in search of a managerial job in the wake of the FA Cup final win over Manchester City

Seating plan 

Mancunians were left wondering why a giant red chair appeared in St Ann’s Square recently – and it’s not because the Graham Norton Show is coming to town.

The idea is part of a ‘Take a Seat’ promotion by United’s women aimed at beating the biggest crowd for a Manchester derby when they face City at Old Trafford on Sunday, May 4. 

Eleven smaller chairs have been placed at venues around the city and anyone who finds one can enter a competition to watch the women train at Carrington.

The current record for a women’s Manchester derby is 43,000, set when the two clubs met at Old Trafford in November 2023. 

United want to beat that figure next month, although they will be going some to break the overall WSL record of 60,160 set when they played Arsenal at the Emirates in February 2024.

United are currently third in the table, one place and seven points ahead of City in the race for Champions League places.