Altay Bayindir keen to battle Andre Onana for Manchester United gloves

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 29 January 2024

Bayindir keen to battle Onana for Man United gloves

Altay Bayindir eyes "more games" for Manchester United as he prepares to battle Andre Onana for the number one goalkeeping spot at Old Trafford.

Altay Bayindir has said that he is eyeing "more games" for Manchester United after making his debut for the 20-time English champions in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Newport County.

Andre Onana's presence with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations opened the door for Bayindir, who arrived at Old Trafford last summer from Fenerbahce, to make his first outing for the Red Devils.

The 25-year-old revealed his delight at becoming Man United's first-ever Turkish player, and he helped Erik ten Hag's side record a 4-2 victory to progress to the next round.

Ten Hag confirmed after the match that Onana would be available for Thursday's Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with his Cameroon side being knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Onana is set to be back between the sticks against Wolves, but Bayindir is hopeful that he will be given a chance to become the number one, with the former struggling to impress since his arrival from Inter Milan.

Manchester United's Andre Onana celebrates after saving a penalty missed by Copenhagen on October 24, 2023 © Reuters

"I was playing my first game, I'm feeling very good because it's a big club in the world and we have a big fan[base], everyone coming [to] every game, everyone supporting us," Bayindir told MUTV.

"I'm feeling very good. Tomorrow, I will continue in the morning. Today is finished and we won today, we are very happy, but we have the next game and we need to be focused for every game, because every game is important for us, everyone wants to win because they know they are playing with Manchester United - it's a big club in the world.

"We are so happy tonight and I need to say I'm feeling special today because I was playing [as] the first Turkish player [for Man Utd] and I'm feeling very proud of myself. I will continue tomorrow.

"Of course, I always want to play more games, but we have a good relationship with all the goalkeepers.

Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir on September 3, 2023 © Reuters

"If the manager will give [us a] chance, we will play and we will give everything. We know our responsibility because we are playing in a big club, we need to give [our all] every day, every game, we need everything.

"Of course, I want to play with this great team, this great atmosphere, and in Old Trafford. I want to play in there with the fans."

Bayindir arrived at Man United off the back of playing 145 times for Fenerbahce, while he has also been capped on eight occasions by the Turkish national side.

Ten Hag is set to keep faith with Onana in the coming weeks, but the 27-year-old has conceded 47 times in 30 appearances for the Red Devils this season, and he has faced criticism due to a string of errors, with the majority of those coming in the group stage of the Champions League.