Manchester United star Altay Bayindir is yet to make his Red Devils debut despite Erik ten Hag insisting the summer signing had ‘impressed’ in training. Bayindir arrived during the most recent transfer window as part of an overhaul of the goalkeeping department.
United parted with around £4million to sign the Turkish star from Fenerbahce. He was acquired to act as back-up to £43m signing Andre Onana, who replaced the outgoing David De Gea as United’s No 1 shot-stopper.
However, even when Ten Hag has rotated his team for Champions League and Carabao Cup matches, he has stuck with Onana. Bayindir is yet to play for his new club despite having apparently performed well behind-the-scenes at their Carrington training base.
Many expected that Bayindir might have played in United’s two Carabao Cup ties against Crystal Palace and Newcastle, respectively. However, Onana was still preferred despite Ten Hag rotating some of his other key players.
The Dutchman said after the Palace game that Bayindir needed to adapt to the English game, although Onana had never played in the country either prior to his summer move from Inter Milan.
“You will see [if he plays tomorrow],” Ten Hag said in October after the 3-0 win over Palace and prior to United’s Champions League clash with Galatasaray. “But we chose in the League Cup to play Andre [Onana] because he [Bayindir] has to adapt to the English standard. That’s why we preferred Andre to play.
“But also we have to progress Altay, that’s clear. He’s made a very good impression in training and he’s really developing, so we’re really happy with it. We are convinced we have the two right goalkeepers in the squad to do the job for us.”
