Tyrell Malacia has been reintegrated into the first-team squad after failing to find a new club in the summer.
Tyrell Malacia pictured
Malacia is training with the firs-team again.(Image: Getty)
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Tyrell Malaicia has been welcomed back to Manchester United first-team training.
Malacia expressed his desire to leave United in the summer and was widely categorised in the 'bomb squad' by the media, alongside Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony.
Speaking recently, Ruben Amorim said: "He is returning with contact with the ball with the Under-21s, then we will see."
After training with the academy, Malacia has now been welcomed back to the first-team group, raising the possibility of him being named in a Premier League matchday squad again.
Club sources have stressed that it was always the plan to reintegrate Malacia into the first-team group once the defender had failed to find a new club in the summer transfer window.
Welcoming Malacia back into the fold is not a reaction to results or a suggestion that he will be used to start at wing-back. It remains to be seen whether he will even make the bench for a game.
It would have been unfair for Malacia to continue to train with the academy, and with the benefit of hindsight, it was unfair to categorise him in the 'bomb squad' this summer.
The Dutchman did not work his ticket like Rashford, Garnacho and Sancho. Malacia is simply not good enough for United. Amorim looked at Malacia after the former's arrival from Sporting Lisbon in November and quickly decided he should look for a new club in the January transfer window.
Malacia was shipped out to PSV Eindhoven on loan but made just six starts in all competitions during that stint, which confirmed ahead of the official decision that the Dutch side would not be signing him permanently.
PSV won the Eredivisie last season, so perhaps it was unrealistic for Malacia to break into their side after joining in the middle of the campaign, but his performances since his return from a serious knee injury last season suggest his sights would be lowered for his next move.
Spanish side Elche came close to signing Malacia, but the move collapsed on transfer deadline day. The options were limited when the window closed and it wasn't a particular surprise to see him remain at United.
United have done the right thing by reintegrating Malacia into the first-team. Sources have praised his professionalism in the past, and he hadn't crossed Amorim like the other members of the so called bomb squad.
Amorim saw something he did not like with Rashford when he was dropped for the Manchester derby in December. Garnacho publicly questioned Amorim after the Europa League final. Sancho has been an outcast at United since falling out with Erik ten Hag in September 2023.
There have been no concerns with Malacia's attitude or behaviour during his time in Manchester. In truth, it was easy to refer to that group of players as the 'bomb squad' as two words summed up five players.
Now Malacia still needs to find a new club in January, but it's the right decision to welcome him back.