Radek Vitek’s rise presents a tricky situation for Man Utd next summer, and the ghost of the club’s past in the Czech Republic goal doesn’t make it any easier.
So good as Radek Vitek has been on loan at Bristol City this season that, barring a loan next season in the Premier League, Man Utd have a decision to make.
On paper, the decision is fairly straightforward, as Altay Bayindir’s future is in doubt, Tom Heaton is an ambassador, and Andre Onana’s time at Old Trafford is over.
However, Vitek will look at the goal of his national team to see a familiar name between the sticks, and a huge lesson for him.
Radek Vitek has a Matej Kovar lesson at Man Utd
Vitek is yet to make his international debut for the Czech national team, and the person he will have to displace is a name familiar to Man Utd fans.
Matej Kovar is the current Czech No. 1 who left United in 2023 for Bayer Leverkusen, and has since joined PSV, where he’s close to winning yet another league title.
Like Vitek, Kovar also shone on loan spells, but never received a first-team opportunity, so he bet on himself, which is paying off now.
Kovar has earned 17 caps already for the Czech national team, and therein lies the lesson for Vitek.
On a purely potential basis, Vitek has the ability to dislodge Kovar from the No. 1 spot, but he only needs to look at Altay Bayindir for what he can’t do.
Bayindir’s backup status at United has led to Ugurcan Cakir becoming Turkey’s No. 1, so Vitek will think twice before settling for a United backup spot next season.
If he effectively replaces Bayindir at the club level, he will face the same situation as him on the international level as well.
Man Utd must not repeat Dean Henderson mistake with Vitek
Vitek will be well within his rights to demand playing time if he were to stay at United next season.
A silver lining is that United are set to play in four competitions next season, so Vitek can easily play 15 games or so if he becomes the “non-league” goalkeeper behind Senne Lammens.
What they can’t do in any case is just cut him loose permanently, especially on the back of a Championship loan.
United were forced to sell Dean Henderson from a position of weakness after they had already handed him a huge contract, but they couldn’t move on from David de Gea.
Vitek’s wages aren’t high, and a Premier League/top-five league loan could raise his value further.
The upcoming summer will be the worst time to sell Vitek, if United even entertain that scenario, which they shouldn’t.
They can either promise him a fair fight against Lammens for the No. 1 spot or find a better loan move for him where he can elevate his profile further.
He can’t be reduced to another Altay Bayindir, because it will just lead him to become another Matej Kovar.
United should want him to replace Kovar, ideally, while playing for the club, not become him.
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