Andre Onana won’t be in goal for Manchester United this Sunday when they face Newcastle in the Premier League.
The decision comes just a few days after a rough night in the Europa League, where Onana was at fault for both Lyon goals in a 2-2 draw. That performance came right after former United player Nemanja Matic labeled him “one of the worst goalkeepers” in the club’s history—a brutal assessment.
Sources say Onana has been given time off to “rest and disconnect,” and he hasn’t been dropped permanently. He’s expected to return for the second leg against Lyon at Old Trafford on Thursday.
In his place, Turkey’s Altay Bayindir is set to start against Newcastle. It’ll be his first Premier League appearance and only his sixth game of the season, with all his minutes so far coming in cup matches.
Newcastle will also be without their manager, Eddie Howe, who’s been hospitalized after feeling unwell for several days.
As for Onana, it’s been a bumpy ride since joining United from Inter Milan in 2023 for £47 million. Despite starting every Premier League match since his arrival—69 in total—he’s made more costly mistakes than any other goalkeeper in the league during that time. Thursday’s blunder, where he failed to stop a fairly simple shot, only added fuel to the fire.
Manager Ruben Amorim stood by him after the Lyon game, saying he’s made more errors himself this season than Onana has. Still, questions remain, especially considering Onana replaced longtime fan-favorite David de Gea because of his supposed edge with the ball at his feet.
Off the pitch, it hasn’t been smooth either. Just last month, Onana’s wife, Melanie Kamayou, was robbed outside a restaurant in Cheshire—a troubling incident that added to the stress.
For now, Onana gets a break. But with fans and critics watching closely, the pressure’s only building.
