Altay Bayindir will start in goal for Manchester United against Manchester City on Sunday. Coach Ruben Amorim believes new signing Senne Lammens could become first choice for years.
United paid £18.1 million for Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day. The club passed on Emi Martinez, who wanted to leave Aston Villa.
Andre Onana has left on loan to Trabzonspor, raising questions over the goalkeeping role at Old Trafford.
Bayindir keeps faith despite mistakes
Bayindir has played all three Premier League games this season but made errors against Arsenal and Burnley. Amorim confirmed he will start at the Etihad.
The Portuguese coach still praised Lammens. “He has great potential to be our goalkeeper for years,” Amorim said.
He added that United must balance experience with long-term vision. “We must look at the present but also focus on the future.”
Lammens has promise but lacks experience
Bayindir, 27, only made his Premier League debut in April but has ten caps for Turkey. That experience outweighs Lammens’ single season as a regular in Belgium. Amorim explained: “It is a different league, different country, different ball. Altay will continue.”
Onana remains more decorated than both, with a Serie A title at Inter and a Champions League final appearance. Yet at United, the Cameroon goalkeeper struggled with form and confidence.
Onana leaves after costly mistakes
Onana missed early pre-season through injury and later produced mistakes in the EFL Cup. His errors led to defeat against fourth-tier Grimsby after penalties. That loss ended his United spell.
He remains under contract until 2028 but is unlikely to return. Amorim admitted the pressure at United proved too much. “The quality is there but sometimes you need a change,” he said.
Amorim insisted Onana suffered from bad luck and fragile confidence. “I wish him the best but he needs a new environment to recover,” he added.
Three players ruled out for derby
Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha and Diogo Dalot will miss the derby through injury. Cunha left the Burnley match with a hamstring problem. Mount failed to appear for the second half of the same game. Dalot withdrew from Portugal duty after muscular issues.
Amorim declined to confirm recovery times. “Cunha says he can play, but I don’t know,” he explained. “We will go day by day. All three are out for this game.”
Amorim wants academy tradition to continue
Manchester United have included at least one academy graduate in every matchday squad since 1937. The club sees that record as proof of its youth tradition.
Yet before the international break, only Kobbie Mainoo represented the academy against Burnley. He even asked for a loan move during the transfer window, which the club rejected.
Without him, the proud record looks fragile. Options include Tom Heaton and young defender Tyler Fredericson. Amorim stressed his wish to protect the tradition. “Manchester United is built on kids. I don’t want to be the coach that ends that.”
