Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has defended Altay Bayindir after the Turkey international made a mistake in Sunday's Premier League opener with Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Bayindir was given the nod between the sticks for the contest with the Gunners despite the fact that Andre Onana had recovered from the hamstring issue that sidelined him during pre-season.
“No, he recovered," Amorim told MUTV when asked if Onana was still injured ahead of the clash with Arsenal. "But the other guys [Bayindir and Heaton] did so well during pre-season, so I need to balance that.”
Bayindir made a mistake which led to Arsenal scoring at Old Trafford, though, with the 27-year-old's weak punch allowing Riccardo Calafiori to head home from close range.
In his post-match press conference, Amorim was asked whether number three goalkeeper Tom Heaton should have been given the nod for the game with the Gunners, but the Portuguese rejected the suggestion.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim on August 17, 2025
Amorim defends Bayindir following costly error against Arsenal
Bayindir made a similar error of judgment against Tottenham Hotspur in the EFL Cup last season, which led to Son Heung-min scoring directly from a corner.
"Why? But [Altay] suffered a goal like this, where?" Amorim told reporters when asked whether Heaton should have started, before being reminded of Bayindir's error against Spurs.
"Without VAR. With VAR, is a foul. Then what happened in the next game? Arsenal. Altay was unbelievable. I consider everything to put one or the other.
"I didn't drop Onana from the squad. It is not putting Andre Onana with just one week, without seeing a game, without time training. I am happy with the three goalkeepers."
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana on March 16, 2025
Will Man United sign a new goalkeeper before the transfer window closes?
Onana has struggled during his two seasons in Manchester, with the Cameroon international making a string of high-profile errors since arriving from Inter Milan.
Amorim now has a big decision to make for next weekend's Premier League game against Fulham, but Man United simply have to enter the market for a new goalkeeper if they are to be successful this term.
Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma is seemingly heading for Manchester City, while Emiliano Martinez looks likely to remain at Aston Villa despite a host of speculation earlier this summer.
Royal Antwerp's Senne Lammens has emerged as the most realistic option between the sticks, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently claiming that the 23-year-old is on the club's transfer shortlist.
ID:579519:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4652:
No Data Analysis info