Manchester United are preparing to face Newcastle United in Premier League Matchday 32, and head coach Ruben Amorim is expected to make several rotations to the lineup. One major change stands out: the Portuguese manager has made a key decision regarding goalkeeper Andre Onana following his underwhelming performance in the 2-2 Europa League draw against Olympique Lyon.
Onana came under fire for both goals conceded in that match. He was unable to properly deal with Thiago Almada’s cross that led to Lyon’s opener and left a costly rebound in the six-yard box for their second. The result left United fans frustrated, with many pointing to the Cameroonian shot-stopper as the main reason the team failed to secure the win.
In response, Ruben Amorim has opted to omit Andre Onana from the squad entirely for the trip to St. James’ Park. While many expected him to at least be named on the bench, he remained in Manchester as the team traveled north.
Onana had already stirred controversy in the lead-up to the Lyon game, claiming United were the superior side—comments that drew sharp criticism from former United midfielder Nemanja Matic, who labeled Onana “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United history.” Although Onana responded on social media, his performance did little to silence the critics.
When asked about Onana’s struggles in the post-match press conference, Amorim gave a measured response: “I don’t know. The best thing is to look at the goals and all the actions that Andre has had in the game, talk with (Jorge) Vital, and Craig (Mawson, goalkeeper coaches), and to try to focus on the game, what happened, what we need to improve and then put the player again. This is the best way to help any player,” he said.
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Since his €50 million move from Inter Milan in July 2023, Onana has started every Premier League match for the club—69 consecutive games. Amorim’s decision signals a desire to shield his goalkeeper from further scrutiny, although Onana’s status for the second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford remains uncertain.
Altay Bayindir, the chosen one to take Onana’s place
With Onana sidelined, Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayindir is expected to start against Newcastle. The former Fenerbahce standout impressed in the FA Cup clash against Arsenal but has been unavailable in recent weeks due to an unreported injury. Now fully fit, Bayındır returns to the lineup with an opportunity to make a statement.
According to The Athletic, Onana is expected to be back in contention for Thursday’s Europa League showdown. However, a strong performance from Bayindir against The Magpies could spark a legitimate competition for the No. 1 spot moving forward.
