Brother of new Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens says he was 'skeptical' about Old Trafford move

The brother of Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens said he was initially skeptical about the keeper's deadline-day move to Old Trafford and had preferred that his sibling join Galatasaray, as questions grow over the new signing's immediate role.

Lammens, 23, completed a £18.2 million transfer from Royal Antwerp on transfer deadline day and signed a five-year contract with United. The club's director of football, Jason Wilcox, described him as "an excellent young goalkeeper with great potential," and United beat competition from clubs including Aston Villa and Galatasaray to secure the signing.

Tom Lammens, who plays for Belgian lower-league side Borsbeek, told Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad that he had reservations about the Old Trafford move. "There’s a lot of quality, you play for trophies there [at Galatasaray], and Senne could perhaps immediately make his mark in the Champions League," he said. He added: "I was initially sceptical about a move to United, because many players there had already succumbed to the pressure and couldn’t reach their full potential."

Tom said his concerns did not override his brother's choice. "But ultimately, it was Senne who had to make the decision," he said, adding that United made the best impression on Senne. He pointed to the role of United goalkeeping scout Tony Coton, who had monitored Lammens for almost a year and was "very convinced of his qualities." Tom said he hoped Lammens could help United return to its former success.

The debate intensified after United lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the weekend and manager Ruben Amorim selected Altay Bayindir in goal, leaving the newly signed Lammens on the bench. The selection has drawn scrutiny from pundits and former players, including Wayne Rooney, who said on his BBC podcast: "That (benching Lammens) was a worry as well. You don’t know if that was a panic buy. I’ll be honest I don’t know too much about the new goalkeeper, I don’t think many of us have seen much about him. But if you’re buying a new goalkeeper and he’s not ready to come in that’s a bit of a concern."

Lammens spoke on joining United on deadline day, calling it "a real dream come true" and saying he felt a "positive atmosphere" at the club. "I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years," he said, adding that he looked forward to working with Amorim and the coaching staff and to "grow together with this exciting team."

United's recruitment of Lammens came amid a wider search for long-term stability in goal. The club's scouting and recruitment staff identified Lammens as a young keeper with potential, but the weekend selection choices have highlighted the short-term decisions facing the coaching staff as they balance integration of new signings with immediate competitive demands.

Amorim's choice to persist with Bayindir for the derby, and the resulting questions about whether Lammens is ready to step into the first team, has become a focal point for discussion among supporters and pundits. United officials and coaching staff have not publicly revised their position on the goalkeeper hierarchy since the game.

Tom Lammens emphasised family support for Senne's decision while acknowledging the pressure that comes with moving to one of Europe's highest-profile clubs. He said the final choice rested with Senne and expressed hope that the signing, and United's recruitment, would yield positive outcomes for both player and club.

The sequence of a high-profile deadline-day signing followed by a benching in a marquee fixture has left United facing immediate scrutiny over its transfer planning and integration of newcomers. Both club and player will face further attention as the season progresses and opportunities arise for Lammens to establish himself in the first team.