Tyrell Malacia has no regrets about joining Manchester United despite being exiled to train with youth players under former manager Ruben Amorim. The Dutch left-back is rebuilding his career in Major League Soccer with FC Cincinnati after his United contract expired in the summer. Malacia is eager to point out he is fully fit and has been since November 2024, when he returned after a year and a half out following two major knee operations. His appearance for FC Cincinnati in their 2-1 victory over DC United on 21 October was the first time he had started four successive games since September 2022, at the beginning of his first season with the Old Trafford outfit following a £13m move from Feyenoord. That debut campaign under fellow countryman Erik ten Hag was Malacia's high point as a United player, playing 39 times across all competitions. As it turned out, he would only feature on another 11 occasions in the next three seasons.
Malacia made eight appearances before joining PSV Eindhoven on loan for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign. Just before the return for pre-season training, United announced Malacia, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony would train separately from Amorim's squad and would be allowed to leave if a suitable offer was made. It was never clear what Malacia had done wrong as sources say he was not disruptive or a bad influence. As it turned out, the other four moved on, while Malacia remained in exile at Carrington, training with the under-21s, or even the under-18 and under-17 squads, at his request, to stay in shape. "I wouldn't regret anything, not one bit," he said in an exclusive interview with BBC Sport. "Even if I could do it over, I would do the same thing because otherwise I wouldn't be the man I am now."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing