Manchester United are set for a testing start to the 2025/26 season after being handed the toughest opening five fixtures in the Premier League, according to Opta Power Rankings.
The Red Devils begin the campaign with a massive home clash against Arsenal before taking on Fulham, Burnley, Manchester City and Chelsea in succession.
As if the pressure on Ruben Amorim wasn’t high enough, United could also face a major goalkeeper crisis in the middle of the season.
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With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicking off on 21 December in Morocco, first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to join up with the Cameroon squad during one of the busiest periods of the domestic calendar.
The 29-year-old could miss as many as seven matches should Cameroon reach the final on 18 January.
That would see Andre Onana sidelined for crucial Premier League games against Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Wolves, Leeds United, Burnley, and potentially even the Manchester derby – as well as an FA Cup third-round clash.
Though there’s a possibility he may feature against Villa on 20 December – with Cameroon’s opening group game against Gabon only taking place on Christmas Eve – any hope of juggling club and country duties could see a repeat of the controversy from the 2023 tournament.
Back then, Andre Onana drew heavy criticism, including from former Arsenal and Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor, for arriving late to the national team camp after playing a league game for United just 24 hours earlier.
“He did not respect Cameroon,” Adebayor said at the time.
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“He has alienated supporters and even members of the team.”
Despite a rocky season in Manchester filled with high-profile errors against teams like Lyon and Brighton, Onana remained Amorim’s preferred option between the posts.
However, his absence may now force a rethink.
Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır, who has been linked with a move away, could be called upon to step in if United opt against bringing in a new signing.
Amorim’s decision on the goalkeeper position could define United’s fate in the busy winter stretch – and with fixtures piling up, the pressure is on.
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