Former Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal likes to have his say on matters at Old Trafford.
The acclaimed Dutch coach claimed he'd retired after being sacked by the Red Devils in May 2016, but six years on he's still in the dugout managing his national team ahead of the World Cup this winter. Within his budding Netherlands squad is Tyrell Malacia, the promising young defender from Feyenoord who Van Gaal employs as a wing-back.
In June, the Oranje played four matches in the Nations League and Malacia started two of them, seeing out the 90 minutes in both games against Wales. As the Netherlands won both games with last-gasp winners, the highly-rated 22-year-old - nicknamed 'the pitbull' in his home city of Rotterdam - impressed and further staked his claim to be in Van Gaal's 26-man squad in Qatar.
Having only made his international debut last September, it's been something of a meteoric rise for Malacia, but his move to Manchester might bring him back down to Earth. Close to finalising a £15.7million transfer to the Red Devils, the youngster has already been warned by his Holland boss about making the leap from his boyhood club to the Premier League.
United were interested in signing Ajax starlet Jurrien Timber early in the summer transfer window, but Van Gaal threw a grenade into the 20-year-old's thinking that appears to have left his move dead in the water. The veteran manager voiced his concerns over whether Timber would get regular game-time at Old Trafford, making it clear that staying in Amsterdam and playing week in, week out would be better for his World Cup prospects.
Join the debate! Should Malacia have waited longer to leave Feyenoord? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
"I think a player of his quality can play in the Premier League. That is not a problem," Van Gaal began, speaking at a press conference. "If he has to make this big step now, that's the question. It is not so wise, I think (to move to United). He has to play."
Of course, one can argue that Malacia may well become new manager Erik ten Hag 's first-choice left-back in time for the tournament, but the fact the Red Devils already have Luke Shaw, Alex Telles and Brandon Williams all vying for that spot means he'll face a difficult challenge upon arriving in Manchester.
United are also after Lisandro Martinez, who can soundly operate at left-back should he be required. Van Gaal has already shown his ruthless nature when it comes to selecting his squads, failing to call-up Old Trafford benchwarmer Donny van de Beek since he took over from Frank de Boer last summer.
It could still end up being a dream move for the ambitious Malacia, but even he knows he'll have to impress at club level to continue on the international stage. "You have to perform at your club, I'm doing that nicely," the United target affirmed earlier this year.
"But I want to show in every international match that I'm supposed to play. He then tries to take my opinion out of me. At first I mainly looked the cat out of the tree, but now I share it too. Other than that, I'm still calm, I mainly let my feet do the talking."
