Manchester United's goalkeeping situation has spiraled into a full-blown crisis, with André Onana's departure to Trabzonspor adding more questions than answers for manager Ruben Amorim. The decision to offload the error-prone Onana, rather than resolve the issue, has compounded the conundrum at Old Trafford, leaving Amorim with a selection of unconvincing options between the sticks.
As Amorim prepares his squad for Sunday's derby against Manchester City, he faces a stark reality: his available goalkeepers inspire little confidence. Altay Bayindir, with just seven Premier League appearances for United, has already displayed a worrying penchant for costly errors. Senne Lammens, a 23-year-old, remains an unknown quantity, having never experienced English football. And Tom Heaton, at 39, is a distant memory, his last Premier League game dating back to January 2020 with Aston Villa.
The shadow of Onana looms large over this predicament. The 29-year-old, despite his Champions League and Europa League pedigree, proved to be a liability during his time at United, his performances marred by a series of high-profile blunders. Yet, his exit has only served to highlight the lack of viable alternatives within the squad.
Amorim's decision to drop Onana last season and for the opening three league matches of the current campaign signaled a clear lack of faith in the Cameroonian. However, Bayindir's subsequent struggles have undermined Amorim's judgment, with the Turkish international's shaky performances raising serious doubts about his suitability as United's number one.
The 1-0 opening-day defeat to Arsenal, where Bayindir was deemed responsible for the Gunners' winner, further exposed the fragility of United's goalkeeping department. The situation is a damning indictment of the poor squad-building that has plagued the club since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. Amorim has inherited a pair of unreliable goalkeepers, both acquired under his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, and their failings could ultimately cost the Portuguese manager his job.
Onana's tenure at United was characterized by a series of costly mistakes, culminating in an embarrassing Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby. The Cameroonian was culpable for both goals conceded in the 2-2 draw, further highlighting his unsuitability for the role.
The decision to allow Onana to join Trabzonspor on loan has been met with bewilderment, particularly given the initial assurances that he would remain at the club. The player's desire for regular game time ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, coupled with the financial incentives on offer in Turkey, ultimately swayed his decision.
André Onana’s exit still leaves Manchester United with more questions than answers. Photograph: Conor Molloy/ProSports/ShutterstockAmorim now faces the unenviable task of entrusting the goalkeeping duties to either Bayindir or Lammens, neither of whom inspire confidence. The former lacks Premier League experience and has already demonstrated a propensity for errors, while the latter is an unproven talent with no senior appearances for Belgium. The situation begs the question: why didn't United pursue a more established option, such as Aston Villa's Emiliano Martínez?
Martínez's age and asking price may have been deterrents, but his vast experience and commanding presence could have provided the stability that United desperately needs. Instead, Amorim is left to gamble on unproven talent, hoping that his decision doesn't backfire spectacularly.
As United prepare for the derby against Manchester City, the spotlight will be firmly on Amorim's chosen goalkeeper, likely Bayindir. The Etihad Stadium will be a testing ground, and any further errors will only intensify the scrutiny on Amorim and his team. The goalkeeping crisis at Old Trafford is a ticking time bomb, and the consequences of failure could be dire for all involved.
The storm that Amorim predicted is raging. And United desperately needs a solution.
