A player brought in by coach Erik ten Hag, yet barely featured for Manchester United.

The 2023/24 season was undeniably a bizarre one for Manchester United, characterized by ups and downs and a string of injury crises.

Despite enduring their worst-ever Premier League campaign, Manchester United salvaged some pride by clinching a trophy at the end of the season. Their stunning victory over arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final provided a silver lining.

The situation at Old Trafford was perplexing, to say the least. Manchester United narrowly avoided a season of complete failure. Speaking of disappointments, one player in particular would undoubtedly be discontented, especially considering he was one of Erik ten Hag’s signings for Old Trafford.

Following Andre Onana’s arrival, Manchester United sought a reliable backup for the goalkeeper position. At the time, the talented Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce emerged as a cautious but promising choice.

Manchester United secured the services of the Turkish international for a bargain price of £4.3 million, a steal in the transfer market. Prior to joining Old Trafford, the 26-year-old had amassed 166 appearances in his career, boasting an impressive record of 53 clean sheets.

Fast forward a year later, and Bayindir had only managed a solitary appearance for the club. It came in an FA Cup fixture against Newport County. This was hardly the ideal debut season any player would hope for with a new club.

Rumors began circulating after just one season suggesting that Bayindir might depart the Red Devils. Ten Hag’s unwavering faith in Onana undoubtedly cast a shadow over Bayindir’s prospects. Moreover, his lack of game time at Manchester United could even jeopardize his chances of featuring in EURO 2024.

While Bayindir currently finds himself in Turkey’s preliminary squad of 35 players, his scarcity of appearances at club level may result in his exclusion from the final squad traveling to Germany.

In all honesty, for the sake of his career, Bayindir may need to seek opportunities away from Manchester United. While undoubtedly talented, it would be a waste of his potential to continue languishing on the bench at the Theatre of Dreams.

Bayindir’s case presents yet another enigma for Manchester United. A player recruited with much promise, yet largely unseen at Old Trafford. Perhaps many have even forgotten that Manchester United once secured Bayindir’s signature.

Undoubtedly, Bayindir must be experiencing immense frustration. Particularly given Onana’s early-season errors, yet coach Erik ten Hag remained reluctant to grant him a chance. Bayindir hasn’t even had the opportunity to make his mark at Old Trafford and may never receive that honor.