Manchester United appears to be nearing the signing of a new backup goalkeeper, as reports reveal that a pre-medical evaluation has been scheduled with Fenerbahce’s Altay Bayindir.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, a €5 million transfer deal is being discussed. With ongoing speculations surrounding Dean Henderson’s departure from Old Trafford, the club is moving swiftly to secure a replacement, and Altay Bayindir, the Turkish international, has been identified as a potential candidate.
Considering the arrival of Andre Onana this summer, it’s reasonable to expect that the former Ajax goalkeeper will be the primary choice for United. Nevertheless, having a backup goalkeeper is always prudent.
Regrettably, shortly after news about the possible deal circulated online, a video of Bayindir went viral on social media, and it’s safe to say that it doesn’t portray the keeper in the most favorable manner.
Who is Altay Bayindir?
In theory, Bayindir would be an excellent addition as a backup to Onana. Over the past four years, the 25-year-old has proven himself as a dependable goalkeeper for Fenerbahce, occupying the role of the club’s primary choice in goal throughout his tenure.
Having initially emerged through the ranks of MKE Ankaragucu, the Turkish talent faced challenges in securing a consistent place in the first team before his transfer to Sari Kanaryalar in 2019.
His move to Sari Kanaryalar turned out to be the turning point that propelled him into consistent playing time. Over his four seasons at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, he has amassed at least 30 appearances each season.
Bayindir’s prowess extends beyond being a solid shot-stopper; he’s equally recognized for his ball-playing skills and proficiency in building play from the back. This quality aligns well with Ten Hag’s football philosophy, which emphasizes such attributes – a theme evident since the manager’s tenure began at Old Trafford last season.
This playing style also makes Onana a fitting addition to the team this summer, underscoring why the club has expressed interest in Fenerbahce’s number one goalkeeper.
However, United isn’t the only club eyeing Bayindir’s talents. There are reports suggesting that Ajax and Nottingham Forest are also monitoring his progress.
Although he extended his contract with the Turkish club earlier this year, securing Bayindir’s services is projected to cost Manchester United just over £4 million – an incredibly affordable sum considering his abilities. While the idea of acquiring a player of his caliber to serve as Onana’s backup should be exciting for United fans, a recent viral video has put the goalkeeper in a rather unflattering light.
What does the video contain?
Shortly after news of the potential deal was announced, one fan wasted no time sharing a highlight video of Bayindir’s that, well let’s just say it doesn’t paint him in the brightest way.
Instead, the entire video is a compilation of some pretty comical mistakes that he’s made throughout his career. If you’re a United fan, you may want to look away now.
Man Utds new Goalkeeper Altay Bayındır
BEST GOALKEEPER IN THE WORLD? 🥵🥵🥵
BETTER THAN DE GEA?? 🥶🥶
— Nelsson (@vikingnelsson) August 22, 2023
The video includes some wild mistakes, including some astronomically bad moments that saw some pretty tame shots and what should have been fairly routine saves somehow resulting in the ball beating him and finding the back of the net.
They aren’t flattering at all. There are numerous shots of him being beaten at his near post, while there are also a couple showing him struggling to deal with an aerial threat on a couple of occasions.
The following clip, is probably the pick of the bunch, though.
Goated https://t.co/vBb4Ge7CCz pic.twitter.com/e3xdPOVrVS
— You Guy😁 (@eben_____) August 22, 2023
After appearing to comfortably claim a free kick, Bayindir holds the ball tight against his chest, but accidentally slides backwards across the goal line, bringing the ball with him in a moment that wouldn’t feel too out of place in a sitcom. It’s unbelievably comical.
There are moments in the clip that shows him diving around hilariously, getting nowhere near the ball in a manner that’s not too dissimilar from something you’d see when one of your friends is playing in goal on a FIFA video game and doesn’t quite know what they’re doing.
Of course, compilations can be quite misleading and cherry-picking someone’s best, or in this case, worst bits, can paint a very deceiving picture about their ability and their careers, but blimey, this one featured so many different over-the-top moments that it was pretty convincing.