Rúben Amorim already has the first reinforcement for ‘his’ Manchester United: Tyrell Johannes Chicco Malacia (Rotterdam, 8-17-1999). The former Feyenoord player, signed in 2022 for 15 million euros, reappeared on Tuesday after 517 days! of absence.
United announce the return of Malacia.Instagram
A very long absence that has given rise to all kinds of conspiracy theories in England, in the style of what happened to Kate Middleton before announcing that she had cancer. Everything has been said on social networks. It was even suggested that he had died. It was also noted that he had disappeared, that he had been arrested, that he had been included in a witness protection program… Some even ‘invented’ that he had eloped with the Princess of Wales.
“No [me he escapado con ninguna princesa]. Nothing was true. I’ve just been doing my rehab. I dedicated myself to training, family, sleeping, especially when I was in the Netherlands. It’s the only thing I’ve done,” Malacia acknowledged to ‘The Athletic’, who, in his first season at Old Trafford, 2022-23, played 39 games (2,687′).
The rumors worry him zero, nothing. “I don’t pay attention to social media. Many times I would find out about the things they said a week later from my mother or my sister. My friends would even ask me: ‘Don’t you want to say anything publicly about it?’ No. While my family and I know that I’m okay, that’s enough.
I’ve just been doing my rehab. I dedicated myself to training, family, sleeping… It’s the only thing I’ve done
Tyrell Malacia
Luckily, all that gossip is now a thing of the past. The Dutch international reappeared as a starter, playing 45 minutes, with the ‘red devils’ reserve. They went into the break, 1-1. They could not avoid the defeat against Huddersfield (4-1) in the EFL Trophy, a kind of Cup for the affiliates and the Third and Fourth division teams.
To find his previous appearance – last season he did not play a minute – you have to go back to June 14, 2023, with the ‘Oranje’, in the semis of the Nations League. United initially opted for conservative treatment, based on infiltrations, but it did not work.
Finally, he had to undergo surgery twice. “We talked to the doctor who operated on my first knee and decided we had to do something different. I had to start rehab all over again. There were times when I thought, ‘I’m getting tired of this!'” However, I didn’t give up. It’s not my system. In my family we are not like that.”
There were times when I thought: ‘I’m getting tired of this’… but I didn’t give up.
Tyrell Malacia
Luckily, he’s back. ‘The Sun’ even slips that he could be ready to play in Amorim’s debut. The idea, however, is to wait. Even more so after the long ordeal he has gone through. If all goes well, it could reappear at the end of the year. Great news for the new Manchester United coach, used to playing with long wingers.
