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Andre Onana has caught attention away from the pitch after sharing footage of a fiery cupping treatment during the international break.
Onana Tries a Hot Take on Recovery
Andre Onana has opted for a recovery routine that looks considerably more dramatic than an ice bath.
The Manchester United goalkeeper, currently on loan at Trabzonspor, shared footage of himself undergoing fire cupping therapy. The treatment involved cups being placed across his back and legs, with heat used to create suction against the skin.
Fire cupping is used by some athletes as a recovery technique, although the evidence surrounding its performance benefits is mixed. Supporters of the practice claim it can help with muscle tension and circulation.
Whatever the science says, it certainly produces a more eye-catching Instagram clip than ten minutes on a foam roller.
Trabzonspor Loan Gives Onana Another Reset
The 30-year-old is spending a second successive season with Trabzonspor after his Manchester United career stalled.
United originally signed Onana from Inter Milan in 2023, but a difficult spell at Old Trafford eventually cost him his place. Trabzonspor retained him on loan for the 2026/27 campaign after his first season in Turkey.
Onana has played eight competitive matches for Trabzonspor this season, conceding 10 goals across Süper Lig and European qualifying fixtures. Six of those appearances have come in the Turkish top flight.
His domestic numbers have improved lately. Onana kept clean sheets in Trabzonspor’s 5-0 victory over Gençlerbirliği and 4-0 win against Galatasaray, giving him consecutive home shutouts before the international break.
From Old Trafford Pressure to Turkish Football
Onana arrived in Manchester after helping Inter reach the 2023 Champions League final, but consistency proved difficult to find in England.
His distribution was initially viewed as one of the qualities that could modernise United’s build-up play. Errors and uneven performances instead became a recurring talking point, and the club eventually moved in another direction between the posts.
Trabzonspor has offered him regular football and a chance to rebuild his reputation without the weekly scrutiny that followed him at Old Trafford.
The fire cupping session is only a small part of that process, but it reflects how far elite players will go in search of marginal gains during a packed season.
What Bettors Should Take From Onana’s Form
For football bettors, the treatment itself is little more than an interesting sideshow. Onana’s recent performances, clean-sheet record and Trabzonspor’s defensive numbers are more useful when assessing goalkeeper-related props, both-teams-to-score markets or clean-sheet prices.
His eight appearances and 10 goals conceded also need context. Five of those goals came across two Europa League qualifying matches, while his Süper Lig record has been steadier.
In other words, a video involving actual flames may grab the clicks, but the numbers remain the more useful part of the story.
