Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United have endured a hodgepodge start to 2025/26 proceedings; they’ve accrued four points in the Premier League but were kicked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two’s Grimsby Town. And Craig Burley, formerly of Chelsea, has told the Portuguese that one player should not play again this season.
Lisbon-born Amorim, having replaced Erik ten Hag in November, was thrown in at the deep end with a team not catered to his taste/system. That was evident, and quite quickly, as the Red Devils finished the season in 15th place, while they also lost the Europa League final.
A summer of Amorim-inspired recruitment – with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all arriving at the club – and there are evident improvements, even if the results don’t back that up. That said, the aforementioned Burley, who played 135 times for the Blues, is not convinced of one player.
Burley Unconvinced by Man Utd Star, Claims Amorim ‘Can’t’ Play Him Moving Forward
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There is much that still needs improving at Old Trafford. Albeit a step in the right direction, having targeted Premier League-proven assets, the summer transfer window still didn’t neutralise an ongoing issue: United’s lack of control in the midfield.
Elsewhere, Senne Lammens’ summer arrival from Royal Antwerp has, on the surface at least, eased concerns of the goalkeeping department. Whether the 23-year-old Belgian will be Amorim and his entourage’s No.1 moving forward remains to be seen.
Andre Onana, who was signed from Inter Milan in 2023, has reportedly agreed a season-long loan deal with Turkish club Trabzonspor, while Altay Bayindir has filled the Old Trafford faithful with little to no hope whatsoever when he’s been entrusted.
Burley isn't convinced that Bayindir, a 10-cap Turkey international, is the long-term option between the sticks for United. Speaking to ESPN, per The Mirror, he said:
“Altay Bayindir, they can’t play him. He might be okay at shot-stopping, which is what goalkeepers are paid for, but he’s absolutely useless at dealing with balls from set-pieces.”
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Signed during Ten Hag’s tumultuous reign, Bayindir was initially expected to be Onana’s deputy but this season, it seems his responsibilities have been upped, as evidenced by him playing all three of Amorim’s opening Premier League matches.
In terms of coming to claim crosses, and subsequently failing to do so with any confidence, you only have to look as far back as United's opening match of the campaign against Arsenal. Far too weak, the Turk showed very little strength to demand the ball from Declan Rice's cross, and the Gunners scored.
Burley believes that Lammens, in place of the out-of-sorts Bayindir and the out-on-loan Onana, needs to hit the ground running with his Premier League employers, given that sides are becoming acutely aware of the Red Devils’ Achilles heel, which is defending set-pieces. “This new lad [Senne Lammens] needs to be able to marshal a back four, make saves and have an authority and make a statement at set-pieces,” midfielder-turned-pundit said.
“That’s what every team is going to do against United now, they’re going to launch balls into the box and the goalkeeper needs to be able to deal with it. He’s either going to sink or swim. We don’t really know how he’s going to handle this scenario.”
All in all, Bayindir – since his arrival from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023 – has played 14 times across all competitions. He’s become used to battling with Onana for the No.1 spot but, now, he’ll be going head-to-head with Lammens for the place.