Manchester United are continuing to explore an exit for Tyrell Malacia but will leave the “final decision” over the Dutch defender’s future up to Ruben Amorim, a report by ESPN reveals.
And then there was one
Malacia, 26, was one of five members of Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ this summer – a group of players, including Malacia, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, with no future under the Portuguese coach who the club were actively looking to sell.
But while the other four stars in this motley crew found new homes before the September 1 deadline, Malacia remains at Old Trafford.
Garnacho completed a £40 million switch to Premier League rival Chelsea and Antony returned to Real Betis for £21.6m, while Sancho and Rashford both departed on season-long loans to Aston Villa and Barcelona respectively.
United were locked in negotiations for Malacia to join La Liga side Elche on loan, but an agreement could not be struck over an obligation to buy at the end of the season and talks fell through.
This meant, as Monday’s 7pm deadline slammed shut, the Dutch defender is still a United player, despite not having played for the Red Devils since January, nor trained a single minute with the senior squad over the summer.
Markets remain open abroad
ESPN reveals United are still “exploring exit routes” for Malacia with transfer markets still open in Belgium, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
“Sources have told ESPN that a final decision on Malacia will be left to Amorim. However, the club are still open to allowing the Dutchman to move to a country where the window is still open.
“Transfers are permitted in Belgium until Sept. 8, in Turkey until Sept. 12 and in Saudi Arabia until Sept. 23.”
Malacia was linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League earlier in the summer – and this option would likely prove the most financially lucrative for United.
The final decision on where Malacia plays football this season will rest with Amorim, however, with the Portuguese coach having previously indicated he is open to members of his ‘bomb squad’ returning to the first-team if they did not secure exits over the summer.
And while this was hard to believe for the likes of Garnacho and Rashford – players who Amorim had public disagreements with – Malacia always felt like the least explosive member of the bomb squad, suggesting a return could still be possible.
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
