After 535 days out of action, Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia is finally on the verge of returning to the first team. The 25-year-old Dutchman’s long injury layoff was marked by setbacks, personal tragedies and even wild conspiracy theories about his whereabouts.
Malacia enjoyed a breakthrough debut season at Old Trafford in 2022/23, making 39 appearances in all competitions. However, a seemingly minor left knee problem suffered towards the end of the campaign has kept him sidelined since then.
“I didn’t expect to do less because I know what I can do” Malacia said of his first year at United. The very first signing in the Erik Ten Hag era proved to be a reliable and dependable player, often starting before first choice Luke Shaw.
The problem was a tear in Malacia’s left meniscus. After initial rest and rehabilitation measures failed to resolve the problem, he underwent surgery in July 2023. However, further complications arose, forcing him to undergo a second procedure that reshaped his recovery timeline.
“We had a lot of injuries and my injury needed a lot of attention” Malacia explained. “As far as the medical part goes, at some point we decided, ‘Okay, you need a few extra people around you to help you, to work with you every day and just focus on you.'”
As Malacia’s absence dragged on, speculation about his status ran rampant on social media. Some suspected he died or even ran away with the Princess of Wales. The player did not want to address the rumors and said: “If my cousin or my mother hadn’t sent this to me, I wouldn’t even know.”
Behind the scenes, Malacia struggled with personal difficulties, including his father’s illness and the death of his grandmother, whom he referred to as his “second mother.” Overcoming these challenges while rehabilitating his knee proved extremely difficult.
“I think you have to motivate yourself because if you don’t, the world won’t do it for you.” Malacia said. “If I don’t wake up in the morning…if I don’t train hard enough in the gym, my mom, dad and sister can’t do that for me.”
Now, after 535 days, Malacia is finally about to return. He played first half for United’s under-21 side in the EFL Trophy earlier this month and is aiming for a first-team comeback before the end of the season.
“I want to get the team back to the top,” said Malacia. “That has to be the standard at Man United. Even when things are difficult, you should always strive for the top.”