Altay Bayindir’s error gifted Arsenal a 1-0 win over Manchester United in their opening Premier League fixture, and Ruben Amorim has been urged to sort the club’s goalkeeper crisis
Ruben Amorim is facing a goalkeeping conundrum after Altay Bayindir’s blunder in Manchester United‘s loss to Arsenal. The club’s woes between the sticks worsened on Sunday when Turkish international Bayindir flapped at a first-half corner, allowing Riccardo Calafiori to score the only goal of the match.
Regular No. 1 Andre Onana was absent for the Premier League clash at Old Trafford after a hamstring injury saw him miss pre-season. The former Inter Milan keeper has also been under constant scrutiny for his performances since joining in July 2023.
When asked in his post-Arsenal press conference if he should have selected veteran shot-stopper Tom Heaton, who shone during the summer friendlies, instead of Bayindir, Amorim became rather defensive. However, that’s exactly what ex-United and Wrexham shot-stopper Ben Foster believes the Portuguese head coach should do for their next game at Fulham this Sunday.
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That is despite the fact that the 39-year-old former Burnley star hasn’t played in the Premier League since the beginning of 2020.
While Foster thinks Heaton would be the most suitable short-term option, he has reiterated his recent call for United to sign either Emiliano Martinez or Gianlugii Donnarumma before the summer transfer window closes in less than two weeks or risk another disappointing season.
Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster said: “This is a massive problem for the next game. It asks all sorts of questions and there’s going to be so much talk surrounding it coming into that next game.
“Do you start with Bayindir, whose confidence will be low now after the first game? With Onana, people will be going, ‘Well, he’s not much better.’ There’s a lot of pressure. Tom Heaton, I would trust him to give me a six-and-a-half out of 10 performance.
“It just forces Man United’s hand to go and sign a proper goalkeeper. I think if you can get a Martinez or a Donnarumma, you’ve just got to do it. If you sign that player, it’s going to be the difference between mid-table misery or really pushing for that top six.”
Despite the goalkeeping crisis at United, Amorim seemed satisfied with his current options when questioned about the situation after the Arsenal match.
Amorim said: “I’m happy with the three goalkeepers. He [Bayindir] chooses to get the ball, but he’s getting pushed. That is my feeling when I see the play.
“You choose to push a player [out of the way] or to get the ball in that moment. He needs to use his hands to catch the ball, not push players. He chooses to push players and will let the ball pass.”
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has also given a scathing assessment of Bayindir’s performance during the club’s opening Premier League fixture. Speaking on Rio Presents, the United icon expressed serious reservations about the ex-Fenerbahce keeper.
“What I would say is that it was a cheap goal,” he said. “We gave away a goal. The keeper has got to be better. He’ll be hugely disappointed, because this was his chance.
“The manager has gone with him and backed him and he’s had, really, one thing to do in his penalty area and he didn’t pass the test.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
