Ruben Amorim rubbishes Andre Onana injury reports in bombshell statement as Man Utd goalkeeper is left out of Arsenal clash for the sake of team 'balance'

Goalkeeper Onana and striker Rasmus Hojlund did not even make the bench for United's Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday. After reports emerged that the Cameroon international was still recovering from a hamstring injury, head coach Amorim stated that the 29-year-old's absence was not due to any fitness issues. Instead, Altay Bayindir started in between the sticks for the Red Devils.

When asked about Hojlund and Onana not being in the matchday squad, Amorim told Sky Sports before the game: "It's an option. We try to choose the best players for each game. Next week is a different life and in this week we chose this way."

Pressed further on Onana's absence, he added: "No, no [not an injury]. He [Onana] will recover but the guys did so well in pre-season so I need to balance that."

Amorim has dropped Onana in the past due to poor form, but the ex-Inter Milan man has had an injury-hit pre-season, which has not helped his cause for the 2025-26 campaign. The Portuguese has previously given his backing to Onana but this omission may be a sign that he is not entirely happy with the stopper and that Bayindir could be first choice going forward. Or, they could be in the market for a new number one, something that was on the cards after making a loan approach for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez.

After United lock horns with Arsenal, Amorim's team travels to Fulham in their next Premier League fixture on August 24. If Onana is not included in that match as well, speculation will only increase that he will be nearing an Old Trafford exit.