Tyrell Malacia reported to the Dutch national team in Zeist this week with a big smile on his face. The left wing defender is in his place at Manchester United and has managed to conquer a starting place in Erik ten Hag’s team faster than expected. Malacia keeps Luke Shaw on the bench, among others. He had no contact with Peter Bosz since the deal to Olympique Lyon fell through.
Malacia seemed to be heading for Lyon for a long time last summer, but opted for United at the last minute. “It happened, as it happened,” he says in conversation with Football International. “My dream has always been the Premier League. At the same time, a dream is only really beautiful when you actually play. I do that now. Of course I also heard and read the stories beforehand. United? Maybe the bank. And what consequences would it then have for the Dutch team? In England I was not considered the biggest purchase. I was not put off by it.”
It was not the first time that clubs from abroad reported to Feyenoord for the services of the calf biter. Last year, the the Dutch international already had the opportunity to move to Club Brugge. “That didn’t go through and I resigned myself to that,” the defender continues. “But at home I did say to my family and friends: ‘After this season I will leave Feyenoord.’ Then it is nice if that is possible after a great year. You could now say that it is good that I did not go to Bruges then. I therefore believe that everything in life happens for a reason.”
Malacia has now become an integral part of United’s defense. The left back has conquered his place and plays at top level every week. “I want to play against the best players. Top matches. I love those, so it doesn’t make me nervous. I’m capable of it now. Five years ago, for example, I got into trouble against Saka. He started strong and then you can get confused as a defender But I now know that if things don’t go well I have to go back to basics Thinking simple Then I regained control In terms of strength and power I am now experiencing something that I have only experienced at Oranje before. Then you also meet top players. Now it is every week.”
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