Wesley Sneijder makes prediction about Manchester United player Tyrell Malacia
The 2010 World Cup hero is a big fan of Man Utd star Malacia and has chosen him as his preferred left-back
Netherlands great Wesley Sneijder says he think Tyrell Malacia should start for the Dutch at this winter’s World Cup.
The Manchester United left-back has been in excellent form for his new club, having featured in each game and started every fixture since replacing Luke Shaw at half-time in the 4-0 loss to Brentford. The 23-year-old has been one of the club’s best performers this season and won praise for his displays in the wins over Liverpool and Arsenal as United enjoy a four-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Malacia has five caps for the Netherlands and will hope to build on that tally against Poland and Belgium during the final international break before the World Cup. Sneijder — who helped his country reach the 2010 final in South Africa — has backed Malacia to earn a place in the starting XI due to the attacking philosophy he upholds under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
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“I choose Malacia in my team, because he comes up high and is much higher,” he said, as per Voetbal Zone. “Then you get more into a 3-5-2 and I like that.
Malacia could line up alongside Jurrien Timber, who backed away from a United move after Netherlands head coach and ex-United boss Louis van Gaal warned he might not make his squad for Qatar if he didn’t earn ample game time.
Meanwhile, former United players Daley Blind and Memphis Depay are expected to travel to Qatar, as is long-term target Frenkie de Jong. PSV winger Cody Gakpo — who United also held an interest in over the summer — could also make the cut.
On former United defender Blind, Sneijder said: “And of course Blind can play football in those spaces, only he is vulnerable defensively. And we saw that again this week. He wasn’t very defensive, was he?”
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