The reason behind Ramens' switch from striker to goalkeeper has been revealed, and he still participates in midfield training! Courtois offers some advice.

In the training footage unveiled by Manchester United on Friday, 23-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Sena Ramens showcased some remarkable saves. However, given that it’s an edited highlight and the shots were taken by another goalkeeper, Altay Bayindir, it’s hard to draw many conclusions. Still, the fans at Manchester United maintain great expectations for Ramens, hoping he can shut out their archrivals Liverpool at Anfield soon and ultimately achieve the standards set by De Gea.

It’s worth mentioning that, like De Gea, Ramens was originally a striker during his childhood but switched to goalkeeper at age 10. His brother Tom revealed this change was because Ramens didn’t want to be substituted during matches. "Mainly, it was to avoid being taken off; he didn’t want to sit on the bench, and goalkeepers are rarely replaced. Also, he disliked running continuously in training!"

As a goalkeeper, besides making saves, Ramens—who stands over 1.9 meters tall—can also push forward to the opponent’s goal in the final moments when his team needs a goal, utilizing his childhood striker skills to try and score. He once headed a last-minute equalizer in a UEFA Youth League match against Real Madrid. This is one reason why Manchester United fans compare him to Schmeichel, the Danish keeper who also scored a headed equalizer for the Red Devils.

Although now a dedicated goalkeeper primarily relying on his hands to guard the net, Ramens hasn’t completely abandoned the skills he developed as an outfield player. A former Club Brugge youth coach revealed that Ramens often requests to join midfielders’ training sessions to improve his footwork and also practices his positioning—an unusual approach for a goalkeeper.

“Ramens frequently asks to play other positions during training, and sometimes his ball control surpasses that of some teammates,” said Rick Demir. “So, when he headed that 2-2 equalizer against Real Madrid in injury time, I wasn’t too surprised. Well, I was a bit amazed at the moment, but given his excellent technique, it really wasn’t unexpected. He reacts at just the right time, and his heading ability is outstanding because his positioning is very strong. Sometimes, his ball handling is even better than some professional outfield players.”

Coach Demir also shared that once, while working late at the training ground with a view of the gym, he noticed the lights turn on at 10 p.m. It turned out Ramens had returned to the club late at night for extra training. “He said he felt like he was wasting time sitting at home, so he came back to the training pitch to train alone,” Demir added. “We always emphasize balancing hard work toward goals with proper rest, but he constantly puts immense pressure on himself.”

In Sunday’s Premier League “Red Derby,” Ramens might not need to showcase his versatility in other positions, but he will have to face Liverpool attackers like Salah and Ekitić. Amolin stated, “Nothing is impossible; you have to prove you deserve to start every week. Although he’s not yet a top goalkeeper like Schmeichel, he’s a talented young player and well-liked by the fans.”

During the international break, Ramens trained with Courtois in the Belgian national team. The £18 million new Manchester United goalkeeper is often seen as Courtois’ successor. Before Ramens’ first visit to Anfield—where Courtois has played for Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid—the veteran keeper gave him some advice.

“Sena (Ramens) showed the qualities Manchester United wants to see in his first game: tall stature, willingness to challenge crosses, and a strong personality as a young player,” Courtois said. “I believe he will perform well. But this weekend’s task is tough, and I hope everything goes smoothly for him on the pitch. I wish him success. Anfield is a difficult stadium to conquer, and I told him that when he reaches the KOP stand, he should first applaud the home fans!”

It is said that Liverpool’s KOP stand has a tradition of applauding the visiting team’s goalkeeper. Whether this gesture is out of respect or a psychological tactic implying the keeper will concede goals for Liverpool to capitalize on, interpretations may vary.