In Trabzon, where André Onana is continuing his career in Turkish football, the 30-year-old goalkeeper has offered a striking glimpse of his private recovery routine. A video posted to his Instagram Stories showed Onana undergoing fire cupping treatment, with cups across his body and small flames visible on his back and legs.
Key takeaways
- Trabzonspor goalkeeper André Onana shared footage of a fire cupping session on Instagram.
- The 30-year-old appeared with multiple suction cups placed on his body during the treatment.
- Flames were visible around areas of his back and legs in the video.
- Cupping is associated with traditional Chinese medicine and is used by some athletes after training.
- Karim Benzema has also previously been seen using similar cups as part of his recovery.
A personal recovery room far from the pitch
Elite players increasingly take recovery work into their homes, often supported by personal trainers, physiotherapists and private chefs, as well as specialist gym equipment. Onana’s post showed a more unusual side of that individual preparation.
The method seen in the footage is known as cupping therapy. In its fire-cupping form, the inside of a glass cup is briefly heated with a flame before being placed against the skin. As the air cools, it creates suction and leaves the familiar circular marks often seen on athletes.
Traditional treatment, uncertain results
Practitioners use the technique in an attempt to ease muscle tightness and post-training contractures. Its effectiveness remains open to debate, but the visual impact is unmistakable, particularly when fire is involved.
For Onana, now based on the Black Sea coast with Trabzonspor, the clip made clear that his off-field routine extends well beyond conventional gym and massage work. Whether the treatment brings the desired physical benefit is known only to the goalkeeper and those overseeing his recovery.
