Ruben Amorim has confirmed which goalkeeper will start in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
There has been a significant change in the goalkeeper position at Manchester United.
Following his arrival for pre-season with a hamstring injury, Andre Onana has been passed over by Ruben Amorim for the initial three Premier League matches of the 2025/26 season.
Turkey international Altay Bayindir was chosen to start over Onana in those league fixtures; however, his errors prompted United to re-enter the transfer market on deadline day.
United acquired Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp for £18.2m, indicating that the future was uncertain for Amorim’s previous first-choice goalkeeper.
Onana finalized a loan transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Consequently, United supporters have been discussing whether Amorim will opt for Bayindir or Lammens in the upcoming Manchester derby.
Altay Bayindir will start in the Manchester derby
It came as a surprise to journalists attending Amorim’s press conference that he would reveal who would get the nod between the sticks when United travel to the Etihad Stadium.
Amorim decided to shut down any uncertainty ahead of the match by confirming Bayindir will remain in goal for the derby.
“It is the same thing I do with different positions but Altay is going to continue,” Amorim told reporters, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“It is a different league, different country, different training, different ball. So they will fight for the position.”
Amorim also noted that he is pleased to have signed Lammens, a goalkeeper he considers to have lots of potential.
The United head coach went on to stress that Bayindir is ready to play.
“I think sometimes to connect with Andre. Andre Onana did a very good season in Inter, the quality is there but in the club sometimes things is getting harder and harder but in this club the pressure is so hard in every detail sometimes you need a change. I believe in Altay he is ready to play.”
Ruben Amorim explains decision to sign Senne Lammens
This was the first opportunity for the press to ask Amorim about his new signing.
Amorim made it clear that he believes Lammens has lots of potential and it’s only a matter of time before he will be ready to feature for the first-team.
“We are really pleased, he is a goalkeeper with a lot of potential. We are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience, but we also have to look at the present with a focus on the future so it is a bit of both. He will be ready.”
When asked why United signed Lammens, Amorim replied: “Sometimes you as a club you try to see different options, one or another. We have an option that can give us different things in the moment, but also has a great potential to be our goalkeeper for a number of years.”
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