Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has been left out of the squad for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Newcastle United, following what has been described as a difficult week for the Cameroonian international.
According to renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano, United manager Rúben Amorim made the decision after the club’s Europa League match against Olympique Lyon. Amorim reportedly advised Onana to take a short break from football to mentally recover and “disconnect” following a string of underwhelming performances.
“André Onana won’t even be on the bench for Man United today,” Romano shared via social media platform X on Sunday. “Rúben Amorim wanted him to disconnect from football after a difficult week.”
Jamie Jackson of The Guardian also confirmed the development, stating that Onana did not travel with the rest of the squad to Newcastle.
In his absence, Turkish goalkeeper Altay Bayındır is set to make his Premier League debut. The 25-year-old joined United last summer but has seen limited action, mostly serving as a backup option.
The club expects Onana to return for Thursday’s second leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie, offering hope of a swift comeback for the former Inter Milan shot-stopper.
Onana, who has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent weeks, had previously received public backing from Amorim following a high-profile mistake in the first leg against Lyon. Despite fan criticism, Amorim had insisted that “mistakes can happen” and expressed continued faith in his goalkeeper.
Bayındır’s appearance on Sunday is seen as a key opportunity for the Turkish international to stake a claim for more regular appearances as United look to finish the season strongly in both the Premier League and European competition.
