Reuben Amorim confirmed that the new signature Senne Lanmans would not start the Manchester Derby and would prefer Altai Bayindil instead. However, the three Manchester United stars miss the game through injuries. The 23-year-old Runmen was snapped from Royal Antwerp at the transfer deadline, and the Red Devils agreed to fire the Belgian Shotstopper’s first £18.2 million and £3.5 million add-ons.
Speculation began quickly as to who would be handed the gloves when United faced Manchester City arch rivals in Etihad on Sunday. However, Amorim ended the guesswork more than 48 hours before kickoff.
“Different leagues, different countries, different balls,” the Red Devils chief said at a pre-game press conference where questioned whether Lammens would begin. “They fight for that position. That’s obvious. Altey starts. He’s ready to play, he’ll play.”
The Bay Indeal, which appeared in all three of United’s opening Premier League before an international break, failed to reach the Turkish pitch last week and remained as an unused replacement, with its own country shipping eight goals in two matches. The former Fennerverse keeper arrived at United in September 2024 for £4.3 million.
“We’re really pleased (at Ranmen),” Amorim added. “He’s a goalkeeper with a lot of potential. We’re in a moment when goalkeepers need to really have strong and have a lot of experience, but we also need to focus on the future and look at the present.
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“Sometimes, you’re as a club that tries to see different options. There are options (rammen) that can do a lot of things to us at this moment, but have great potential to become a goalkeeper for many years.”
Unlike his new colleagues, Lammens is expected to appear among the alternatives. Amorim revealed that Diogo Dalot, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha are all on the sidelines due to injuries.
“They’re out in this game,” Amorim said. “I don’t know how long it will take, you have to be a very competitive team, but there are very good players who want to play.
“I don’t want to say (how long they’re out). If you talk to Cunha, I don’t know because he says he can play this game. We take care of it every day.”
The door was opened to compete for the starting jersey after Runmen and Bay Indeal were on loan and Andre Onana left for Trabzonpol.
“Andre had a very good season and quality, but sometimes things get more and more difficult at the club and every detail is very difficult at this club.
“I think we and Andre knew this requires change and it would be difficult to point out why.
“Our idea was to make a difference to the goalkeeper, but I hope it’s the best for Andre. He was really good, so he was trying to help the players, and sometimes he can have all the quality of the world, but there’s a need for change.”
