Erik ten Hag says his £15m signing hasn't trained this season as Man Utd boss dishes dirt

Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has not stepped foot on the training pitch during a calamitous campaign, Erik ten Hag has revealed. The left-back was signed during Ten Hag’s first summer transfer window in 2022 but has become a forgotten figure at Old Trafford.

Malacia underwent surgery on his knee during pre-season. According to The Athletic, the Dutchman went against United’s wishes for him to have the procedure in London, instead wanting to return to the Netherlands to see a surgeon of his choice.

His request was accepted by the Red Devils, with the procedure taking place away from the oversight of his employers. However, upon his return in the Autumn, scans showed small fragments of cartilage remained around the meniscus.

It was decided that Malacia would see the same surgeon again but under the watchful eye of United’s medical team. Ten Hag expected the 24-year-old to return in January, but he did not play again for the remainder of the campaign amid a widespread injury crisis.

“Tyrell Malacia didn’t play a single minute of football this season,” Ten Hag told Voetbal International. “In fact, he didn’t even spend a single moment out on the training pitch. We signed him as our back-up for Luke Shaw.”

Shaw was another played who missed large parts of the campaign. Ten Hag, whose United side slumped to a disappointing eighth-placed finish, has bemoaned being without who he believes is the world’s top left-back.

“Luke Shaw is the best left back in the world,” the United boss said. “This guy is so good. But he has suffered a horrible injury at the start of his career and because of this he will never be able to play 60 games per season.”

Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof have all spent large parts of the campaign injured. “The injuries have been really crazy,” Ten Hag continued.

“Not long ago, I had to start my 15th different centre-back duo of the season. I have had 33 different defensive lines this season.

“Sofyan Amrabat had to play left back four times. We have had injuries all over the pitch. Casemiro has been out for a long time. Rasmus Hojlund, the striker we bought, suffered from three injuries and I can keep going on and on. This is the core story of our season.”