There's something beautifully honest about a footballer admitting he dreams of playing for a bigger club. No media training, no diplomatic non-answers. Just pure, unfiltered ambition.
When approached by a fan in Morocco this week, Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka didn't hesitate: "Of course I want to play for Manchester United."
🚨🗣️ Brentford player Frank Onyeka was asked via a fan which club he plays for:
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) January 14, 2026
"Brentford."
Then answering directly when questioned about a potential move to Old Trafford, saying:
"Yes of course, I want to play for Manchester United."
[@MobilePunch] pic.twitter.com/y8INBuSQdg
The timing couldn't be more poignant. Onyeka was in Rabat representing Nigeria at AFCON 2025, hours before the Super Eagles were knocked out on penalties by hosts Morocco in Wednesday's semi-final. A 0-0 stalemate followed by heartbreak from the spot. The 28-year-old had done his job in midfield – combative, relentless, everything that earned him the nickname "The Tank" – but it wasn't enough.
A player frozen out at the Gtech
Here's the uncomfortable truth: Onyeka's admission tells us as much about his Brentford situation as his childhood dreams.
Six Premier League appearances this season. All from the bench. A grand total of 88 minutes. That's less than a full match spread across five months of football.
Since Thomas Frank departed for Tottenham and Keith Andrews took over, Onyeka has found himself behind Jordan Henderson in the pecking order. The former Liverpool and England captain arrived with a point to prove, and he's proven it. Onyeka, meanwhile, has been reduced to Carabao Cup cameos and watching from the stands.
It's a brutal fall for a player who arrived from FC Midtjylland in 2021 with genuine Premier League credentials. Last season's loan spell at FC Augsburg was supposed to be a reset. Instead, he returned to find fewer opportunities than ever.
Would United even pick up the phone?
Let's be direct: Manchester United have not been linked with Frank Onyeka. Not in serious reporting, at least.
The Red Devils are exploring midfield reinforcements – that much is true. Carlos Baleba at Brighton remains a target, though the Seagulls' asking price proved prohibitive last summer. Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson and Angelo Stiller have all been mentioned in various reports.
Onyeka doesn't fit the profile. At 28, he's not the long-term project that new interim boss Michael Carrick might want to build around. He's a stop-gap solution at best – and United have had enough of those.
Carrick, appointed on January 13 following Ruben Amorim's dismissal, faces a Manchester derby on Saturday. His priority is steadying a ship that has lurched from crisis to crisis, not signing a defensive midfielder who can't get a game at Brentford.
The Championship beckons?
More realistic suitors have already emerged. Birmingham City and Coventry City are both reportedly monitoring Onyeka, according to The72.
For a player who once dreamed of Old Trafford, dropping to the Championship might feel like failure. But football careers don't always follow the script we write for them. Onyeka's contract runs until 2027, and Brentford – ever the pragmatists – would likely accept a reasonable fee to trim the wage bill.
Sometimes the biggest clubs aren't the right clubs. Sometimes the smart move is the unglamorous one.
What happens next
Onyeka will return to London after Saturday's third-place playoff with Egypt. He'll report back to the Gtech Community Stadium, probably train with the reserves, and wait for the January window to offer clarity.
His public declaration might raise eyebrows at Brentford, but it won't change anything. Keith Andrews has made his choices clear. Henderson is the man.
As for Manchester United? They have bigger problems than recruiting a frustrated 28-year-old from a relegation rival. The dream was always just that – a dream.
But credit to Onyeka for saying it out loud. In a sport drowning in clichés and corporate-speak, a little honesty goes a long way.
