Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana was dropped from the squad for their Premier League game at Newcastle United on 13 April 2025, three days after two errors in the Europa League draw at Lyon.
Altay Bayındır took his place for what was set to be his Premier League debut. Onana had played every minute of United’s league games since joining from Inter Milan in 2023, and he did not travel to Tyneside.
Amorim: a chance to disconnect
The BBC reported on the morning of the game that Onana had been left out to rest and disconnect, and that he was expected back for the return leg with Lyon at Old Trafford on 17 April. Sky Sports News reported that Amorim wanted him to rest and clear his head, and that he could be recalled for that game.
Head coach Ruben Amorim explained the decision to Sky Sports on the day. He said that, in context, it was a normal decision: sometimes a player had to be pushed to play again, and sometimes he had to be allowed to disconnect for a while.
Onana would be back in training the next day to prepare for Lyon, Amorim said. He said he had explained the decision to the goalkeeper, that the mental side mattered and not only the physical one, and that it was only one game.
A difficult week for Onana
Onana spoke to reporters after United’s goalless draw with Manchester City on 6 April and said his side were “way better” than Lyon. Nemanja Matić, who played for United from 2017 to 2022 and was now at Lyon, answered at his pre-match press conference three days later. He said that statistically Onana was among United’s worst goalkeepers of the modern era, and that he should take more care over what he said.
Onana replied on X on 9 April. “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same,” he wrote.
A day later in the first leg, Thiago Almada’s free-kick got past him early on, and he later pushed Georges Mikautadze’s shot straight to Rayan Cherki, whose goal five minutes into stoppage time made the score 2-2. Amorim said afterwards that he was “really confident” in his goalkeeper.
Bayındır steps in
Bayındır, a Turkey international who joined United in 2023, had made six appearances that season, none of them in the league. He had been the hero of United’s FA Cup third-round win over Arsenal on penalties. Tom Heaton was named on the bench.
