Altay Bayindir has been in the news a lot since Manchester United’s opening game of the season.
The Red Devils exceeded expectations against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday and were comfortably the better side.
However, Ruben Amorim’s side could not score past the best defence in the Premier League, and a mistake from their own goalkeeper, Bayindir, cost them at the other end of the pitch.
Micah Richards has now jumped into the Turk’s defence, again.
Micah Richards says Manchester United star Altay Bayindir is not as bad as people think
Manchester United signed Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023 for just £4.3 million.
The Turk was only brought in as a backup by Erik ten Hag, and he has just played 12 times for the Red Devils so far.
The latest of those appearances came on the opening day of the 2025/26 season against Arsenal.
Bayindir was eased off his position by William Saliba during a corner, and that led to Riccardo Calafiori scoring the only goal of the game for the visitors.
Bayindir has come under immense criticism from players like Roy Keane since, but Richards, who defended the goalkeeper after the game on Sunday, has done it again.
"Micah, this is big boy stuff!"
Roy Keane and Micah Richards trade blows over Altay Bayındır's decision-making for Arsenal's goal… 😬 pic.twitter.com/6B0Cb5NpCH
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 17, 2025
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When Alan Shearer claimed that Manchester United should prioritise signing a new goalkeeper over a defensive midfielder, Richards backed Bayindir by saying that he is not as bad as people have made him out to be in recent days.
He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “Bayindir is not as bad as people have been making out over the weekend.
“I agree with you, Al, a strong number one would help them, especially if you got a top goalkeeper.
“But I just think that was a bad decision, I don’t think he is that bad of a goalkeeper. I actually think he is quite good, to be honest.”
Altay Bayindir looking dejected during a game between Manchester United and Arsenal
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Should Manchester United sign a new goalkeeper?
Richards is right about Bayindir.
Yes, the Turk should’ve done better in goal against Arsenal, but he otherwise had a really solid game in net for Manchester United.
Even Amorim defended the goalkeeper after the game.
However, if Manchester United want to go to the next level, they should be eyeing a move for a much superior goalkeeper in the coming days.
Both Bayindir and Andre Onana can be brilliant on their day, but both players have made mistakes in recent years, costing United points.
If that problem is fixed, we think Manchester United will fare a lot better than they did last season.