Exclusive: Erik ten Hag ignored Man United star for two weeks after he joined

Exclusive: Erik ten Hag ignored Man United star for two weeks after he joined

Callum O'Connell

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football correspondent and podcast host with specialist knowledge across the Premier League and SPFL. FOCUS Transfer news, breaking stories, and behind-the-scenes insight across Arsenal, Liverpool, Celtic, and Manchester United. THE INSIGHT Callum utilises a network of club and industry contacts across the Premier League and SPFL to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the depth behind the headlines — from breaking transfer news to behind-the-scenes developments — ensuring fans get the full story as it happens.

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Erik ten Hag did not speak to Altay Bayindir for two weeks following his arrival at Man United, sources have told Football Insider.

This comes amid rumours of discontent in the dressing room and behind the scenes at Old Trafford as pressure continues to grow on the manager's position.

Now, sources say the manager's actions off the field have been further cause for concern for some of his players including the Turkish goalkeeper.

Sources explained that, following his £4.3million arrival from Fenerbahce in 2023, he was not greeted by, nor introduced to the manager, for over a fortnight.

For the initial weeks of training, the 26-year-old spent time only with the club's goalkeeping coaches, without ever having a conversation with the manager.

This has raised further questions about Ten Hag's treatment of his players following fans' claims that some of the club's stars have lost faith in him based on recent performances.

Erik ten Hag pressure growing at Man United amid shock dressing room reveal

Bayindir, United's second-choice goalkeeper behind Andre Onana, has made just two appearances for the club since his arrival in 2023.

Both of those appearances took place in domestic cup competitions, with one in the Carabao Cup and the other in the FA Cup, but he has rarely been called upon even for rotation.

Instead, Ten Hag prefers to stick with Onana in between the sticks, having brought the goalkeeper in from Inter Milan after working with him at Ajax.

This has followed a trend under the current boss, with multiple former Ajax players brought to the club with varying degrees of success.

Bayindir was signed as a promising backup and potential future number one for United, having made 145 appearances for Fenerbahce, but his lack of game time since arriving has been a cause for concern.

Man United
(Credit: Imago)

Meanwhile, pressure on Ten Hag's position has been growing after a slow start to the season, with United now winless in five games, and discontent behind the scenes is adding further stress.

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