Erik ten Hag’s future at Manchester United still looks uncertain, with a sea of bad performances at the beginning of the 24/25 season calling for change around Old Trafford.
The Dutchman is still the manager of Manchester United, but only just, with numerous reports that Ten Hag could be sacked in the coming days.
He’ll feel let down by the Manchester United first-team squad, which includes a number of players Ten Hag signed for the Red Devils himself.
Although, his first United acquisition will have played no part in his sacking – that is given the fact he hasn’t played in well over a year now.
What has happened to Tyrell Malacia at Manchester United?
A question on everyone’s lips – what happened to Tyrell Malacia? The Dutch full-back has not been in Ten Hag’s squad for some time now, and with the speculation of sacking on the horizon, may never play again for the man who purchased him before anyone else at Carrington.
So where did it go wrong? What’s the latest? Here’s a full timeline of what has happened to Malacia at Old Trafford.
Malacia signs for Man Utd
Tyrell Malacia became Ten Hag’s first Manchester United signing on the 5th of July 2022, joining from Feyenoord for around £15m.
The Dutch defender made 136 appearances for the Rotterdam giants and helped them reach the inaugural UEFA Conference League final, before being beaten by Jose Mourinho’s Roma – so arrived with big expectations.
Malacia had always dreamed of signing for the Red Devils – so it looked like a match made in heaven for player, coach and club.
Malacia makes lively start for the Red Devils
As the 22/23 season begins, it begins to look like United have got an absolute steal for the youngster. Malacia had a good debut against Crystal Palace – and continued to thrive for many games after this.
His finest performance definitely came against Liverpool at Old Trafford, where the then 22-year-old was electric – with Malacia even impressing club legend Rio Ferdinand.
As 2023 rolled around, another fine Malacia performance vs Manchester City had cemented his first-team status, and bright future at the club.
Injury concerns arise – but first season a success
Malacia’s first injury issue at Manchester United occurred in April 2023, when he and Marcel Sabitzer were absent for a Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest.
Ten Hag told MUTV: “He [Malacia] has a sore knee and already he was struggling in the week. Today it was too bad to start.”
Despite this, his first season was a roaring success. Malacia set himself a personal Manchester United target of playing 20 games in his first season. His start against Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign was his 36th.
Malacia injured for pre-season tour 2023
After a stellar inaugural campaign, the next started with misery – with Malacia ruled out of United’s pre-season tour 2023.
A real blow for the youngster, who was going to be second string to Luke Shaw in the new season, but was definitely going to fight for his place.
The tour passed, and not a single update was issued on the defender. Months more passed – and then finally some news.
Malacia injury update finally provided – October 2023
After months of uncertainty, a Malacia injury update was provided – and it wasn’t a good one.
The Manchester United defender had knee surgery towards the back end of the previous season which had kept him out of action ever since.
The club, according to reports, originally tried to solve the issue with pain-killing injections but it quickly became apparent that surgery was required for the defender to fully heal from the injury.
The defender had been on crutches ever since and had continued his recovery in the Netherlands. There was an expectation, however, that Malacia could be back fit for United before the new year.
Malacia doesn’t play a minute for the 23/24 campaign
Malacia returned to individual training later in the month of October, so all looked well and good for a speedy return. Ten Hag also said a month later Malacia was recovering well.
December hits, and Malacia is still working hard to get to full fitness. Ten Hag also says Malacia ‘will return’ in January, but no date is set in stone. And it never would be.
Three more months pass, and Ten Hag says in March Malacia’s season is over. Everyone is baffled, and no one quite knows the situation.
The Dutch gaffer was correct – the full-back didn’t play a single season in the 23/24 campaign, although Malacia did make a cameo appearance at the FA Cup Final 2024.
Malacia back in individual training for Man Utd
Summer passes, and the Red Devils are on the road for the pre-season tour once again, and a Malacia injury update finally emerges.
Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst reports that Malacia trained away from the squad as he continues his recovery from his knee injury ahead of the pre-season tour.
However, he added that there is still no timeframe for Malacia’s return to first-team training. He subsequently missed the United US Tour 2024.
Injury update finally issued from club and Ten Hag
Manchester United themselves revealed in July that Malacia was undergoing individual training, which was the first official update in about six months. Erik ten Hag then gave a Malacia update a week later in August 2024.
“He is now in a good place, but he is not here because I only took players who could play games or be available for team training,” Ten Hag said.
“He is not that far, but he is now in a progress situation. At a relatively short notice, he can again return into team training and then into team performance in games.”
When asked by the media how long fans may have to wait for his return, Ten Hag said: “I think it would be possible in two months.”
Two months have past, so is he back? Not quite yet.
Tyrell Malacia injury latest for Manchester United
Malacia was spotted in United training again at the end of August which sent fans wild, and more recently Ten Hag provided the following statement on Malacia’s return.
“Of course, we want to motivate him to return, but it’s not so easy when you are so long away,” he said.
“Over a season now from an injury to return, but he’s working very hard, he’s progressing really well in this moment.
“He’s making big steps, so we think, at short notice, we can expect him in the team training, and he is a talent, it’s natural.
“I expect also, soon, he can return [to] games then.”
When did Tyrell Malacia last play a game for Manchester United?
Malacia’s last appearance for United was on the 28th of May 2023. The full-back started in a 2-1 win on the final day of the season against Fulham, with Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho bagging the goals.
However, Malacia’s last match for anyone before his disappearance was for the Netherlands against Croatia in the Nations League, taking place on the 14th of June 2023.
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