Ruben Amorim could build on what one first-team Manchester United player was able to show him during the pre-season friendly against Leeds United on Saturday.
Manchester United and Leeds United were both in action at the Strawberry Arena in Sweden, with neither Premier League side able to come out on top in the match.
The Red Devils were lively in the first half at times, but Ruben Amorim was unable to see United capitalise on their chances in the final third against Daniel Farke’s men.
United and Leeds were 0-0 at half-time in Solna on Saturday afternoon and the two Premier League teams played out the same scoreline in the second half of the tie.
Amorim’s men were in action for the first time since the end of United’s woeful 2024-25 Premier League season and the two-match post-season tour of Asia in May.
The 40-year-old United manager oversaw the return of his Red Devils players to the Carrington training complex earlier this month for their first pre-season under him.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesAltay Bayindir stepped in for Andre Onana under Ruben Amorim for Man Utd’s pre-season friendly match vs Leeds United
Ruben Amorim has lost Andre Onana to a hamstring injury in training earlier this month and the Manchester United No 1 is currently sidelined amid the tour.
Andre Onana is expected to return during the US leg of the pre-season tour later this month, but Altay Bayindir now has his chance between the sticks for United.
Altay Bayindir started United’s 0-0 draw against Leeds United on Saturday afternoon and saw out the first half before he was replaced by Tom Heaton after the break.
The 27-year-old Turkish shot-stopper has played second fiddle to Onana for the majority of his United career and question marks surround his time at Old Trafford.
Bayindir’s performance was pretty much written off against Leeds, with the Manchester Evening News awarding him a 6/10 rating on the weekend.
The MEN said that he “shouldn’t be the second-choice” shot-stopper at United, while The Sun handed Bayindir the same 6/10 rating and said that he was “hardly tested.”
Why Altay Bayindir’s performance vs Leeds United matters more for Ruben Amorim, despite the ‘noise’ around the player
Altay Bayindir, much like Andre Onana, was unable to escape the criticism that he faced last season after being on the receiving end of howlers for United.
United have been linked with the likes of Aston Villa star Emiliano Martinez this summer amid Amorim potentially shaking up his options between the sticks.
However, the cash-strapped Red Devils need to desperately improve other areas of the United first-team squad, including signing a new striker and a midfielder.
While Bayindir’s performance against Leeds was nothing to write home about, the United player walked away with a clean sheet and ‘no drama’ around him.
The Turkey international is likely to feature in more pre-season matches this summer, despite the potential return of United No 1 Onana before the end of July.
However, Bayindir has the opportunity to keep ‘flying under the radar’ and build on his confidence ahead of the 2025-26 Premier League season at Old Trafford.