The failure of Olympique Lyon to bring in Tyrell Malacia seems to be going badly for the French club. General director Vincent Ponsot made it clear on Friday morning at the presentation of Corentin Tolisso that he was not happy with the whole course of events surrounding the left back of Feyenoord. Malacia initially seemed on its way to Lyon, but Manchester United now has the best papers to take over the the Dutch international.
“If we don’t have the resources to make purchases, we generally can’t bring in players of this level, whether they like Lyon or not. So it’s certainly not a question of money,” emphasizes Ponsot. “On the other hand, let me be very clear: this institution is always stronger than any player. We sometimes get requests, that’s just how football works, which we don’t accept. That sometimes makes transfers in the water But we are still looking for a left back and will find a good left back,” the Lyon driver assures.
Transfer Malacia faces complications; same scenario lurks for Frenkie
The transition from the Feyenoord defender to England is not yet in order.
Ponsot then involves Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas in his remarkable story about the negotiations with the Malacia camp. “I think the chairman is happy that he can sleep peacefully at night and not be lifted from his bed in the early morning. The same goes for me,” said Ponsot, who emphasizes that he cannot say everything out loud. “The whole matter should have been completed by Tuesday (the transfer from Malacia to Manchester United, ed.). But it is still not finished, so say it.” Lyon is no longer in the market for the left back anyway. “He has not signed there yet, but we are no longer interested. The sincerity of the club is more important. We are proud to work for such a club.”
For a long time, Malacia seemed to move to the Lyon of trainer Peter Bosz, until the Red Devils put a stop to that. There is reportedly an agreement between Feyenoord and Manchester United on a transfer fee of fifteen million euros (excluding two million euros in bonuses and resale percentage). Lyon was also willing to transfer fifteen million euros to Rotterdam South, but twice an offer from France was rejected by the Feyenoord leadership.
Glad the truth always comes out https://t.co/bhsdeF0k7k
— Guido Albers (@galbers9) July 1, 2022
The impending transition from Malacia to Manchester United has been delayed a bit. According to the generally very reliable The Athletic his current agent Ali Dursun is not authorized to supervise the affairs of the 22-year-old back. That is why Malacia has appointed his father instead of Dursun to bring the switch from Feyenoord to a successful conclusion. The same Dursun also represents Frenkie de Jong, which can predict a similar problem in the negotiations about his transfer.
Incidentally, agent Guido Albers will also be heard on Friday, although the representative does not respond directly to Ponsot’s strong texts. 1908.nl reports that “a football lawyer with the right knowledge has been deployed to properly manage the deal from Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United”, to which Albers responds briefly: “Glad that the truth always comes out.”