Archive August 9, 2025

There was something fitting about Altay Bayindir saving the penalty that earned Manchester United victory in their final pre-season friendly with Fiorentina.

This, after all, was the day David de Gea returned to Old Trafford.

It is two summers since De Gea was unceremoniously dumped by United after 545 appearances – putting him seventh on the club’s all-time list – as then-manager Erik ten Hag opted to pay £47.2m to Inter Milan for Andre Onana.

De Gea said at the time he wondered whether he should pack in football altogether. He didn’t – but the debate about the wisdom of his exit continues.

Many question whether Onana was worth it.

A direct comparison on this occasion was impossible. Onana was not involved as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury that makes him a major doubt for next weekend’s opening Premier League game against Arsenal.

If the Cameroon international is not fit, Bayindir will step in.

The Turkey international was expected to leave United this summer after losing out to Onana in the quest to feature in what turned out to be a Europa League final defeat by Tottenham.

But suitors for Bayindir have not been plentiful.

De Gea had gone off by then, replaced before the final whistle. He was given a standing ovation, echoing the reception he got when he came out for the warm-up and again at the start of the game, by an Old Trafford crowd in excess of 60,000.

It was the chance to say goodbye he had not been afforded in 2023.

“It’s a game I’ll never forget, for sure,” said the 34-year-old.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to describe with words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, with everybody there. It was so emotional for me.”

De Gea was complimentary about his old club, saying “you can’t control everything” about the manner of his departure.

There was unhappiness, though. The perceived wisdom is merely that De Gea’s kicking ability was not at the standard Ten Hag required.

Yet, in a similar situation two years ago, Onana played the ball out from the back in a pre-season match against Lens, only for Diogo Dalot to immediately give the ball away.

Onana was out of his box as the ball sailed over his head and into the net from about 50 yards.

Kicking the ball is just part of a goalkeeper’s armoury. De Gea’s former United team-mate Nemanja Matic offered his own insight into the depth of feeling the former Spain international’s departure caused, before a European game against Lyon in April.

“If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history, you need to take care what you’re talking about,” said Matic, in response to Onana’s claim they “should” beat Lyon, which they did – but only after a stunning extra-time comeback.

On Saturday, De Gea just enjoyed being back in Manchester. There was one loose kick straight out of play and he was sent tumbling by a collision involving his own player in the build-up to United’s equaliser, which went down as a Robin Gosen’s own goal.

But he made some excellent saves, including a reaction to deny Leny Yoro that had the young Frenchman punching the ground in frustration.

Bayindir made some too – the best to deny former Everton forward Moise Kean, even if an offside flag he was not aware of was raised.

Few would argue Bayindir would be an upgrade on De Gea, but that is not really the point.

It has been claimed privately that once De Gea knew which way the wind was blowing on his United career, his performances dipped.

Yet, given the choice, many United fans would prefer to have De Gea in goal against Arsenal ahead of Onana.

Now De Gea can only look on from afar in the knowledge that since his last appearance (the 2023 FA Cup final defeat by Manchester City), his old club have gained revenge for that loss, but also finished eighth and 15th – unimaginable for three decades.

De Gea met Sir Alex Ferguson, who brought him to United from Atletico Madrid in 2011, on Friday afternoon.

His respect for the Scot is huge.

“He’s the boss, the reason I came to United,” he said.

As for his old club, like many, he can only hope for better.

“I know it’s been some years that United struggle a bit but it’s one of the best clubs in the world.

As with every summer there have been a few tweaks in football’s laws.

Many were introduced in the Fifa Club World Cup and the European Under-21 Championship – and will be implemented in the Premier League and beyond this season.

Perhaps the biggest change means a goalkeeper holding the ball for more than eight seconds will be punished with a corner for the opposition.

It is hoped this will clamp down on time-wasting.

Until now the law had been six seconds and the punishment of an indirect free-kick – but it was barely ever applied.

Referees will warn the goalkeepers with a five-second countdown.

The new law applies across football now and was seen in action at the Club World Cup.

Al-Hilal keeper Yassine Bounou conceded a corner deep into injury time in their 1-1 draw against Real Madrid after holding onto the ball too long.

Luckily for him Real could not fashion a winner from the set-piece.

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann believes this is a “really positive law change”.

He told BBC Sport: “It will undoubtedly speed up the game. I’m confident that goalkeepers will adapt well to this law change and will release the ball in a timely manner almost all of the time.

Only captains will be allowed to approach referees during Premier League matches this season.

Yellow cards can be shown to players who approach officials without permission and behave in a disrespectful manner.

If the captain is a goalkeeper, a team can provide an alternate player before kick off.

The International Football Association Board says this is recommended, but not compulsory, for every competition – but the Premier League will adopt it.

The initiative was trialled in the Champions League, Europa League and Uefa Conference League last season.

Cann added: “This is another very welcome law change which should help to improve the image of the game and stop the unnecessary surrounding of the referee. Under the laws of the game, the captain doesn’t have any special status or privileges but does have a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team.

“In practical terms, if the referee wants to speak to the captain only, the referee will tap their own arm [to indicate the captain’s armband]. Players should then allow the referee to converse with the captain only.

A rare one that may well not be needed all season in the Premier League, but players will be allowed to retake a penalty if they accidental touch it twice while kicking it… so long as the effort went in.

The new law has already been used this summer in the Women’s European Championship final penalty shootout.

England’s Beth Mead slipped with a double touch as she scored a penalty in the shootout against Spain – and had to retake it, with her second effort saved by keeper Cata Coll.

But under the old laws she would not even have been allowed to retake it as it would have gone down as a miss.

A high-profile incident also involved Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez last season. He slipped as he took a penalty in a Champions League shootout against Real Madrid with the ball making slight contact with his standing leg.

The goal was not given, Alvarez was not allowed a retake and Atletico lost the shootout and the tie.

Now – as with Mead – that would be retaken, so long as it is clearly unintentional. If the kick is missed and in general play – like in a Premier League game – then the defending team would have an indirect free-kick.

This rule change is “sensible”, according to former assistant referee Cann.

“Should a penalty taker accidentally have two touches and score, the penalty will be retaken [instead of an indirect free-kick being awarded],” he said.

There are other minor law changes unlikely to be noticed.

A drop ball may be given to a team who did not touch the ball last before play was stopped – if the referee deems they would have gained possession.

If a coach, substitute or player off the pitch for any reason touches the ball before it goes out of play – when it was clearly just about to go out – an indirect free-kick will be awarded, but no card will be issued.

This is not a new football law, but something which will affect Premier League scheduling this season.

A record nine clubs will compete in European competition this season – that is 45% of the league.

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham are in the Champions League, which will be played on Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are in the Europa League, and Crystal Palace are in the Conference League (subject to appeal), with most of those games due on Thursdays.

But the Premier League has warned “there is an increased likelihood of fixtures moving at relatively short notice” if teams reach the knockout stages in Europe.

However, any games moved to a Sunday (usually at 14:00) as part of the European rescheduling will be shown on Sky Sports in a new TV deal.

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (16) 36

Tries: Burgess 3, Litten, Martin, Lewis, Mourgue Goals: Mourgue 4

Castleford (6) 6

Hull KR warmed up for their top-of-the-table meeting with Wigan next Friday with a comfortable win against depleted Castleford Tigers at Craven Park.

A second successive hat-trick from Joe Burgess helped the Robins take another step to their first League Leaders’ Shield in the Super League era.

Jez Litten, Rhyse Martin, Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue all grabbed one try each for Hull KR in a dominant 36-6 victory in the East Yorkshire sunshine.

With interim Castleford boss Chris Chester only able to select a side from 18 fit players, talk of a potential thrashing was under the spotlight when Cas centre Louis Senior knocked the ball on straight from kick-off.

The visitors defended resolutely, however, and could have had the first score when captain Sam Wood’s beautiful line break saw him go clear but he was unable to find teenage full-back Jenson Windley, who would have a walk-in, instead knocking-on under pressure.

Following a lacklustre opening 20 minutes, the league leaders clicked into gear when Mikey Lewis set off a move which eventually saw Burgess dive over in the corner.

When providing the assist, Lewis was caught by a late challenge from Jeremiah Simbiken, who was sent to the sin-bin and, five minutes later, the Robins made their extra man count when Jack Broadbent found Burgess who dotted down his second in the left corner.

Former Tigers man Broadbent then had his pocket picked when Alex Mellor jumped over the full-back to collect an accurate up and under from Asi before diving next to the sticks to score.

Asi added the extras to reduce Cas’ deficit to four.

Cas thought they had their second try after the break when Senior charged over past three challenges but was adjudged to have lost grip of the ball at the vital moment when attempting to ground it.

The Robins took heed of the warning sign with Cas momentarily down to 12 men when, after Wood received a green card after going down, Lewis strode forward before Martin dived over.

Burgess then raced clear to find Lewis who dotted down to effectively put the match to bed on the hour mark.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Batchelor, Burgess; Lewis, Mourgue; Sue, McIlorum, Whitbread; Hadley, Martin, Minchella

Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Tanginoa, Doro

Castleford: Windley; Simm, Wood, Hodson, L. Senior; Asi, Westerman; Amone, Robb, Stimson; Simbiken, Mellor, Lawler

Interchanges: Singleton, Hall, Griffin, Mustapha

Sin-bin: Simbiken (21 mins)