Tyrell Malacia won't hold any grudges if hot-headed Ajax star Antony follows him to Manchester United.
Highly-rated left-back Malacia is expected to officially join the Red Devils in the coming days after United struck a deal with Feyenoord worth £15.7million. Set to be Erik ten Hag 's first signing as manager at Old Trafford, the 22-year-old might not be the only newcomer for long.
In the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo 's bombshell transfer request, Mirror Football understands that the new Red Devils boss told the Old Trafford board to step up their pursuit of Antony as a way of offsetting their superstar's potential sudden departure.
Known for his skill on the ball, and an impressive goal and assist output, the Brazilian has also made a name for himself as someone who can lose his temper and cost his team a card or two. Coincidentally, exactly that happened when Antony and Malacia lined up against each other only three months ago.
Representing bitter rivals Feyenoord and Ajax respectively, Malacia marshalled Antony superbly and even impressed opposition boss Ten Hag. But it was the attacker who'd get the glory by scoring an 89th-minute winner to secure an important three points which helped the Amsterdam giants lift the Eredivisie title for a second successive season.
They were both involved in the game's flashpoint moment, though, as Malacia collided with Antony in injury time, sending the Ajax winger tumbling towards the dugouts in - at least what seemed like from his theatrics - unbearable agony.
Having already received a yellow card just minutes earlier for removing his shirt when celebrating the winning goal - his eighth and final of the Eredivisie campaign - the former Sao Paulo prodigy was shown a second booking for time-wasting, as he'd hobbled back onto the pitch, only to drop down again.
Ten Hag was quick to defend his right-winger, though, saying post-match: "Unnecessarily, he still has to learn [to control his emotions]. But I am also happy to have players with temperament. You also need them. He is still young, but don't forget that he also got an incredible goal."
Malacia, on the other hand, would've been quite right to be furious with his opponent. However, the Dutch defender issued a classy response to their clash. "I thought it was beautiful," Malacia admitted, as quoted by Ebonyst. "I have a lot of respect for him, he for me. There are boys who go along with it, lose their heads, but that is of no use to you. If I lose my head, I really get a breakdown. I know that side of myself so I just have to stay cool."
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The Rotterdam lad is acutely aware of his boyhood club's rivalry with Ajax, although he has always tried to keep his head in check on the pitch. "I avoided confrontation," Malacia confessed when discussing his days in Feyenoord's youth academy. "I knew if you fight in the locker room you will be sent away. I didn't want that at all. So I kept my mouth shut."
After getting closely acquainted for the wrong reasons in March, Ten Hag shouldn't be worried about any afters in pre-season training.
