Forgotten Manchester United star included in club's 25-man squad for the UEFA Europa League
Manchester United have included Tyrell Malacia in their 25-man UEFA Europa League squad for the 2024-25 season. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League but secured their place in the competition by beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final.
Malacia was signed by Erik ten Hag in the summer of 2022 for a reported £13 million fee and made 39 appearances across competitions in his debut season. Many believed he would eventually be the club's first-choice left-back over Luke Shaw but fitness issues meant he didn't make a single appearance last season.
Malacia is yet to feature in the current campaign as well as he recovers from a knee injury. But it seems Manchester United expect him to play a role in the coming months as he has been named in their Europa League squad.
Here is the full Manchester United team named by Ten Hag for the competition:
Goalkeepers: Onana, Bayindir, Heaton, Mee
Defenders: De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Lindelof, Mazraoui, Malacia, Shaw, Yoro, Dalot, Amass, Evans
Midfielders: Eriksen, Mount, Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte
Attackers: Antony, Amad, Rashford, Hojlund, Zirkzee
The Red Devils begin their Europa League journey with a home group-stage game against FC Twente on September 25.
Malacia, 25, has entered the last two years of his deal at Old Trafford. The nine-cap Netherlands international hasn't played a single game for the club since featuring in a 2-1 league win over Fulham on gameweek 38 in May 2023.
Casemiro in Manchester United's Europa League squad despite transfer links
Casemiro is another name whose inclusion in Manchester United's UEFA Europa League squad would have raised a few eyebrows. The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford, with The i claiming that the club are open to offers for him.
The report adds that Manchester United are keen to get the 32-year-old's £300,000-a-week wages off their books and there is interest from Saudi Arabian and Turkish clubs. He was heavily criticized for his errors in his team's 3-0 home loss to Liverpool in the league on September 1.
Before that match, the Brazilian superstar played every minute of his team's three matches across competitions this season. But against Liverpool, he was hooked at half-time for Kobbie Mainoo, and it remains to be seen if he will continue to be untouchable in Ten Hag's starting XI.
Casemiro has entered the last two years of his deal, and the aforementioned report states that Saudi clubs could return for him in January if they don't sign him this summer.