Tyrell Malacia joined Manchester United from Feyenoord in the summer transfer window, and has settled well in the Premier League.
He’s managed to dislodge Luke Shaw as first choice at Old Trafford, with Alex Telles choosing to go out on loan to Sevilla.
Erik ten Hag is clearly a fan of the player, and it was thought that he’d be able to excel for the Netherlands during the current international break.
Louis van Gaal’s side beat Belgium 1-0 on Sunday evening, thanks to a goal from Virgil van Dijk. Malacia started the match on the bench, and when he was set to come on, the assumption would be he’d replace Daley Blind.
Instead, Van Gaal decided to put Malacia on the left side of a three-man central defence. coming on for Nathan Ake. The manager was constantly shouting instructions to the Manchester United player, and the pair had a chat, which looked like a disagreement, on the sidelines.
NU.nl quote him as saying: “It was completely different. I’m used to going along in the attack. And with the national coach? He explained a situation to me. I did not agree with it at the time. But you also have to continue. After the game we talked about it for a while.
“I prefer to play in my own position. That’s where I’m doing well now and that’s where I feel the best. But if the trainer needs me as a central defender, I’m ready.”
Van Gaal is concerned that Bruno Martins Indi won’t be available for the World Cup, and therefore he wants to test Malacia there.
