When the club became aware of it, they made every effort to cover it up from the general public. What happened to Tyrell Malacia and the reasons why he lasted an entire season without playing a single game or training is finally revealed by Fabrizio Romano. “It was very unexpected and has never happened to any football player before,” Romano says

Tyrell Malacia was a joyful sight at Wembley Stadium, where he was seen celebrating Manchester United’s recent FA Cup final triumph.

Despite a lengthy absence due to a knee injury, the 24-year-old defender, who moved from Feyenoord in 2022 for roughly £15 million, rejoined his teammates for the celebrations. Malacia’s last appearance for United was on May 28, 2023, before his injury sidelined him.

Initially, there were high hopes for Malacia’s return to first-team action by February, but United’s manager Erik ten Hag later revised expectations, indicating that Malacia would likely miss the rest of the 2023/24 season.

Ten Hag stated, “I think it’s going to be difficult for this season to be available.”

The lack of updates from Malacia on social media, with his last Instagram post on July 11, 2023, and his last tweet shortly thereafter, also worried supporters.

However, seeing him on the pitch at Wembley, joining the celebrations after United’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City, was a reassuring and thrilling moment for fans.

The crowd expressed their excitement and support, with one fan saying, “Can’t tell you how happy I am to see Malacia,” and others eagerly noting his presence in the lineup for medals.

Malacia’s absence was felt throughout the season, highlighted by comments from ten Hag in a recent interview with Voetbal International.

“Tyrell Malacia didn’t play a single minute of football this season,” ten Hag noted. “In fact, he didn’t even spend a single moment out on the training pitch. We signed him as our backup for Luke Shaw.”

In the same interview, ten Hag praised Shaw, acknowledging his high skill level but also his challenging injury history. “Luke Shaw is the best left back in the world,” he stated. “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. The injuries have been really crazy.”

As the United squad celebrated their recent FA Cup win, Malacia’s presence among the team was a highlight for many, sparking hopes among fans and teammates alike that he will return to the field in the upcoming season, ready to contribute to the team’s success once again.