Altay Bayindir will start in goal for Sunday’s game against Manchester City at the Etihad.
The Red Devils are set to face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this weekend in the latest edition of the Manchester derby, but new signing Senne Lammens won’t be part of the starting lineup.
The Belgian shot-stopper joined United from Royal Antwerp on deadline day in a deal valued at approximately £18.2 million, with additional performance-based clauses.
Lammens is widely tipped to take over as United’s first-choice goalkeeper following Andre Onana’s loan move to Turkish side Trabzonspor.
However, head coach Rúben Amorim confirmed during Friday’s press conference that Lammens will not feature in the derby clash.
Quizzed if Bayindir would start in goal against Man City, Amorim said: ‘Yeah.
‘It is the same thing I do with different positions – but Altay is going to continue.
‘It is a different league, different country, different training, different ball [for Lammens]. So they will fight for the position. I believe in Altay, he is ready to play.’
Bayindir struggled in United’s Premier League opener against Arsenal, committing a costly mistake and showing signs of uncertainty between the posts.
In contrast, Senne Lammens stood out across Europe last season. Among goalkeepers in the top 10 leagues, he recorded the highest number of saves and ranked near the top in goals prevented—a key metric for shot-stopping efficiency.
The Belgian also led all under-23 goalkeepers in progressive passing, highlighting his ability to contribute to build-up play from the back.
Asked why United signed Lammens, Amorim added: ‘Sometimes you as a club you try to see different options, one or another.
‘We have an option that can give us different things in the moment, but also has a great potential to be our goalkeeper for a number of years.
‘We are really pleased, he is a goalkeeper with a lot of potential. We are in the moment that the goalkeeper needs to be really strong and have a lot of experience, but we also have to look at the present with a focus on the future so it is a bit of both. He will be ready.’
Speaking about Onana’s exit, Amorim added: ‘I think as a club, we understood it needed a change.
‘Sometimes it’s hard to point why – the performance, the moment, the bad luck in some moments was hard on him.
‘Our thinking was to have a change with the goalkeepers, but I wish the best with Andre Onana.
‘He was really good at working and helping the players. But sometimes you need to change the environment.’
