Manchester United cancel deadline day exit leaving wantaway player in ‘disbelief’

Manchester United have pulled the plug on a transfer deadline day move for Tyrell Malacia, leaving the defender in ‘disbelief’ as he looks set for more months on the sidelines.

The 26-year-old has been with the Red Devils since joining from Feyenoord in 2022 and was regularly used in his first season at the club, making 39 appearances.

However, through injury and then falling down the pecking order, the Netherlands international has barely featured since that first campaign, making just nine Manchester United appearances in the last two-and-a-half seasons.

Part of that time was spent on loan with PSV last campaign, but he has been back at Old Trafford this season and made just one substitute appearance.

The Dutchman has returned to first team duties, regularly sitting on the bench having previously been in the ‘bomb squad’ away from his teammates, but has seen almost no action on the field.

Malacia’s contract expires at the end of this season, so he looks certain to leave the club in 2026 and he was reportedly close to departing on transfer deadline day this winter.

Dutch publication Voetbal International report that Malacia was preparing to travel to Turkey on Monday to complete a move away from Old Trafford.

The report doesn’t state which club he was due to join, but does say he was flying to Istanbul before Manchester United unexpectedly pulled the plug.

Director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly stepped in to block the deal after the recent injury to Patrick Dorgu.

Teenager Harry Amass has also picked up an injury during his loan move to Norwich City, meaning the Red Devils are short at left-back beyond Luke Shaw.

With Manchester United only in Premier League action for the rest of the season, Malacia will remain unlikely to see much first team action, unless there is an injury to Shaw, which is always a possibility.

Malacia, who cost the Red Devils £13m in 2022, will be available on a free transfer in the summer.

The injury to Dorgu has proved to be a blow for Malacia, but also interim boss Michael Carrick after the Dane scored in wins over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Speaking of his injury ahead of Sunday’s win over Fulham, Carrick said: ‘Pat, unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a period of time. We’re still working through how long that’s going to be.

‘We’ll have to see, [it’s] disappointing, he’s had such a big couple of weeks, Pat. We weren’t sure whether it was a little bit of cramp or whether it was something a little bit more serious and at the moment it looks a little bit more on the serious note.

‘So, it’ll be a few weeks for that. How many weeks? We’ll have to wait and see. So, that’s disappointing for all of us really, and for Pat, he’s in such a good place, but unfortunately it is part of football and it’s something we’ve got to work through and get him back as soon as we can.’