Tyrell Malacia is ready to depart Manchester United after a long injury layoff, seeking regular playtime following his return to fitness.
Malacia got hurt at the end of the 2022/23 season. Initially, the club tried to manage it with pain injections, but surgery became necessary. He even went back to the Netherlands for recovery but ended up needing another operation. The Manchester Evening News was the first to clarify his absence, which had fans speculating wildly.
He wanted to steer clear of all that noise. Malacia said, “No, nothing was true. I’ve just been doing my rehab.” He focused on training and spending time with family. He wasn’t really into social media, so he often found out about rumors a week later from his cousin or mom.
After his long recovery, he finally returned to play for the Under-21s against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Trophy. He admitted he felt pretty rough during his recovery but stayed positive. It was a relief to be back on the field, and he’s been welcomed back into the first team by Ruben Amorim.
However, he now faces a new challenge: proving himself at United. After falling out of favor with Erik ten Hag, he has a lot to show after being away for so long. Questions about his ability and the impact of his injury lingered.
Malacia made his first-team return against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League but was subbed off at halftime after a shaky performance. He then played against Arsenal, where he held his own against Bukayo Saka, but again was taken off at the break.
Since then, he’s had limited minutes, playing 60 against Viktoria Plzen and 30 against Arsenal in the FA Cup. His worst outing was a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, where he gave away a free-kick leading to a goal.
While it’s great to see him back, it’s clear he’s not at the level needed. With United likely to sign a first-choice left-back soon, a move away might be best for Malacia’s career. At 25, he’s eager to play regularly after such a long absence and could find himself lower in the pecking order next season.
