Altay Bayindir’s United Struggles: A Conversation with Ten Hag
Manchester United’s Turkish goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, has shed light on his limited playing time under manager Erik ten Hag. Despite joining the Red Devils from Fenerbahce in the summer of 2023, Bayindir has only managed to feature in two competitive matches.
In a recent interview with Turkish television TRT, Bayindir revealed that he had a candid conversation with Ten Hag regarding his situation.
While the Turkish international expressed respect for the manager’s decision to prioritize Andre Onana, he also conveyed his desire for more opportunities.
“I had a conversation with manager Erik ten Hag about not playing for Manchester United,” Bayindir said. “I always respect the manager’s decision but I will do everything to play. I’m just focusing on the pitch.
“Bayindir’s limited involvement has raised eyebrows, especially considering his impressive form with Fenerbahce. Before his move to Old Trafford, he had amassed 166 appearances and 53 clean sheets for the Turkish club.
There were even reports that Ten Hag initially overlooked Bayindir upon his arrival at Manchester United, with their first conversation reportedly not taking place for two weeks.
As Manchester United prepares to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League, Bayindir will have a chance to showcase his abilities against his former club.
However, it seems likely that Ten Hag will stick with Onana as the first-choice goalkeeper.
The Red Devils have had a mixed start to their Europa League campaign, drawing their first two matches against Twente and Porto. A positive result against Fenerbahce is crucial to their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.