With André Onana away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Turkish custodian, valued at £4.7 million, is expected to make his FA Cup debut.
After watching from the sidelines for months, Altay Bayindir will finally get a chance for Manchester United because he knows how to take advantage of it. The Turkey international shouldn’t be alarmed by his trip to League Two Newport County for Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round matchup because he has experience playing in hostile environments back home.
When he was thrown into the team at the age of 20, he was Ankaragucu’s third-choice custodian in the Turkish Super Lig, watching as others committed errors. André Onana, who joined United from Fenerbahce in the summer, may have anticipated to make an appearance before late January, but despite his lacklustre play, he played every minute of this season before leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Altay was a small boy, primarily a line keeper, with excellent reflexes and footwork,” remarks Moestafa El Kabir, a former teammate of Bayindir’s from Ankaragucu. “When the first goalkeeper got injured, the second choice got one game and didn’t do well. As one of the team’s key players, I had some influence on the coach, so I persuaded him to play Altay because he was doing really well in practice, making excellent saves, and speaking out at such a young age.
Despite being ten years younger than his goalkeeping peers, Bayindir showed he was capable and kept his spot for the whole of the season, earning a move to Fenerbahce in the summer of 2019, where he quickly established himself as a regular.
El Kabir recollects, “I remember him making some incredible saves to win a game for us.” “This child was twenty years old. Despite being a relatively young custodian, he exuded confidence and charm on the pitch. Off the pitch, he was quite reserved and reserved, showing great respect for the more experienced players.
With a seventh-place finish, Fenerbahce’s inaugural season was disappointing for the team, but it was successful for Bayindir, who played 32 league games while donning the No. 98 shirt. In an attempt to turn things around, Erol Bulut, the current manager of Cardiff, brought in his own staff, including goalkeeping coach Michael Kraft, to help breathe new life into the team.
Kraft claims to have completed a thorough analysis of Bayindir. “He was really impressive; even at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Altay had a lightning quick gait. He was playing his second season at a premier Turkish team, and he was only twenty-two. His control of the penalty area was inconsistent, and his movements were erratic and occasionally haphazard. Using video analysis and game-related training, we trained every detail. Altay’s intelligence allowed him to get back to peak form in a matter of weeks. He is fearless, explosive, and has fast reflexes. Because of his height, he can grab shots that are unstoppable with his amazing reach.
After making his international debut in May 2021, Bayindir has eight caps but has never held the top rank for Turkey. He had a mediocre record in his final season with Fenerbahce and missed the last few weeks due to a hernia issue. His ability to handle crosses and move with his feet are still concerns, but he has put a lot of effort into strengthening these aspects of his game.
According to Kraft, “the players are under enormous pressure in Turkey.” “There is no middle ground for the fans—you are either the winner or the loser. For Altay, this transfer to Manchester United represents a positive start. You will enjoy spending a lot of time with him at United. United paid Fenerbahce £4.7 million after realising the player’s potential as a cost-effective substitute for Onana. Despite Onana’s errors, Erik ten Hag decided not to try the backup in the Carabao Cup, but Bayindir is eventually going to make history as the first Turkish player to play for United.
In all honesty, while not to the same extent as United, I could see him playing for one of the major three in Turkey,” El Kabir remarks. “I could see him going to one of the big clubs; I knew he was a very talented player who would play for the Turkish national team, but United is on a whole other level.” I’m thrilled for him and incredibly proud of him. United is currently under a lot of strain, but I believe he will rise to the occasion. I’m sure he’ll perform admirably given the opportunity to play for such a prestigious team and on such a platform.”
Onana will shortly return to Manchester after Cameroon benched him for the final Afcon group match. However, Bayindir can demand more playing time in the FA Cup or league. For Bayindir, standing and reputation are irrelevant. All he needs is the chance to show himself, and he has it at last.
