Manchester United brought in two defenders for Ruben Amorim during the January transfer window while quite a few players left on loan.
Marcus Rashford and Antony were two of the most high-profile departures and so far, both have fared well with their loan outfits with the Brazilian, in particular, shining brightly in La Liga.
Tyrell Malacia also joined PSV Eindhoven on loan for the rest of the season with the Eredivisie outfit having the option of converting the temporary stint into a permanent one for €10 million in the summer.
The Dutchman, who missed the entirety of last season due to an injury, returned to action for the Red Devils after a 500-day gap and struggled as expected which forced Amorim to send him away.
Malacia loan
The expectation was that the 25-year-old, signed by Erik ten Hag, would regain his form back home playing in a league which is played at a slower tempo.
So far, the ex-Feyenoord star has made nine appearances and it seems like even the Eredivisie is proving tough for the Netherlands international.
The Dutch giants have conceded 40 goals since the winter break and have won only thrice since Malacia joined. A crushing 7-1 defeat to Arsenal and last weekend’s 0-2 defeat at the hands of Ajax have meant morale is at an all-time low.
Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad have claimed that the United star “hasn’t yet been proven that he can help PSV in the long term”, which likely indicates that the loan might not be made permanent.
Pundits and ex-players have criticised him and now, former PSV manager Aad de Mos did not mince his words, claiming the full-back was responsible for Ajax’s second goal on the night.
A poor loan so far
“I have been saying from day one that the PSV goalkeeper is involved in too many goals. He does not score any points. As PSV, you do not have to let a goalie who does not want to extend your contract hold a knife to your throat,” De Mos was quoted as saying by Sport Witness.
“In addition, Malacia is a bad purchase. He gives Traoré a free pass to score. The fullback positions at PSV are not filled in properly anyway, after the departure of Teze.”
United were counting on Malacia’s sale to raise €10 million but that might not be the case any longer. The Dutch star had interest from within the Premier League and even Spain and Scotland but the player opted to sign for PSV after a deal with Benfica fell through.
Whether he returns to United in the summer or an alternate deal can be arranged remains to be seen. He has a current market value of €12 million with his Old Trafford deal valid until 2026.
Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
