Manchester United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir could have pursued a different career if it weren’t for his mother and a former football manager in Bursa, Turkey.

“In the garden, I never played in the goalkeeper position. I was always a striker, really!” he said in an interview with the official Manchester United website. “My first position was defender, then striker. Then it’s a different story, I need to say this.

“When I was playing for Bursaspor, my first club when I was younger, I’m a defender. One day, the goalkeeper didn’t come for training.

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“The manager said: ‘Altay you are tall. Go, but enjoy. You can play in this position. Go in goal.’

“‘No coach, I want to play striker, or defender’. [He said:] ‘No, let’s try.’

“I felt good, I’m jumping and the ball is coming, everyone is saying: ‘Yes, Altay!’

“I would watch every game, every player [would be] in the same shirt, but the goalkeeper is different, [he’s in a] different colour. It feels good. The ball is coming and if you are catching it, you are a hero. If a penalty is saved, [your team-mates say:] ‘Yes you did it!’

“I spoke with my mum in the kitchen and she is working, cooking,” Altay continues. “I spoke with her.

“‘Mother, what do you think for my position? I can play striker or I can play in goal.’

“She doesn’t know too much [about football], but she knows because she’s watching sometimes, we’re watching games every night on TV.

“She says: ‘You can do [the] goalkeeper position, it’s better for you I think. You’re tall. Don’t run too much, everybody is running!’

“So thank you to my mum for everything, for this information. I love my position of course, it’s very different and difficult, of course.

“But it’s a good feeling when I’m catching the ball and everyone is with me.”

Bayindir, who joined United from Fenerbahçe in the summer, has yet to make his debut for the club, with Andre Onana starting in every game so far this season.

In a new episode of the UTD Podcast, the 25-year-old Bayindir discusses his journey to Old Trafford and his hopes for the future.

He reveals that he played every position other than goalkeeper as a youngster, but his height convinced an old coach of his potential.

Bayindir was initially reluctant to switch to the goalkeeper position, but he eventually embraced it due to the unique challenges and rewards that it offers.