Fenerbahce fans made a Manchester United player cry with a hero’s welcome.
Ten Hag chose Andre Onana as the goalkeeper for the crucial match in Turkey, but it was Altay Bayindir, the MU backup goalkeeper, who felt the love from the home fans during warm-ups.
Bayindir played for Fenerbahce for four years before moving to the Premier League in 2023. He has struggled to secure a starting position at MU, where he has been Onana’s backup for the past 16 months.
Sukru Saracoglu Stadium is notorious for being a tough place for visiting teams, but Bayindir received a warm welcome from the fans as he stepped onto the familiar pitch. In response to this affection, he blew kisses to the crowd.
As he applauded the fans, a child ran past the advertising boards and onto the pitch to hug him. Fenerbahce’s football director, Mario Branco, also presented the goalkeeper with a bouquet of flowers to celebrate his return. The match later ended in a 1-1 draw.
Bayindir joined Fenerbahce from Ankaragucu in July 2019 and quickly made the number one shirt his own, making over 100 appearances in the following four seasons. He helped Fenerbahce win the Turkish Cup in 2023 before moving to Old Trafford for £4.3 million on the final day of the transfer window.
Bayindir signed a four-year contract at the Theatre of Dreams and made his MU debut in a 4-2 victory against Newport County in the FA Cup in January.