Manchester United weigh keeper rethink

Manchester United bench Andre Onana for the season opener as talk of a De Gea comeback surfaces.

Onana Dropped by United as De Gea Return Considered

Manchester United will start Altay Bayindir in goal against Arsenal, with Andre Onana left out despite an earlier recovery from injury. Manager Ruben Amorim cited balance and form in pre season as the reason for the decision, saying the squad needed a different mix for the opening match.

The report notes United are weighing a potential return for David De Gea on a cut price release clause from Fiorentina, while Gianluigi Donnarumma is also linked. The goalkeeping group at Old Trafford is under review after a season of scrutiny of Onana, and the club has brought in other options like Bayindir and Tom Heaton to compete for the role.

This move tests the line between merit and risk. Dropping a fit first choice can send a message about standards, but it can also erode trust if supporters feel the reasons are unclear or inconsistent with pre season momentum.

If De Gea or Donnarumma arrives, United faces a balance between the present and long term planning. A return for a club icon could appease fans while complicating a rebuild of the goalkeeping unit. The episode shows how closely a goalkeeper can define a season.

Highlights

The next fixtures will test whether this move steadies the team or unsettles it.