https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js //tags.smilewanted.com/formats/corner-video/arsedevils_com_9edcfba
You are here
Home > Blog Post > 29-year-old United Defender’s Future in Doubt as Club Complete First Signing of the Summer

29-year-old United Defender’s Future in Doubt as Club Complete First Signing of the Summer

Alex Telles, Manchetser United, Galatasaray, Al-Nassr

The arrival of Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia could force Alex Telles out of Manchester United this summer. The Brazilian defender could be next in line to leave Old Trafford, having failed to showcase his full potential since joining the club in 2020.

Alex Telles, Manchester United
Image Obtained via Caught Offside

Manchester United Sign Tyrell Malacia

United earlier seemed to have slipped out of contention for Malacia. Reports suggested that Olympique Lyon had capitalised on United’s inefficiency to snatch away the 22-year-old. However, the Red Devils have rebounded to meet Feyenoord’s asking price and potentially hijack the deal.

As per reports, Lyon offered €13m plus €2m in add-ons for the Dutch left-back. However, United swooped in with a €17 million bid (€15m + €2m), the Eredivisie club’s exact asking price along which also includes a sell-on clause. Feyenoord accepted the offer right-away.

The Red Devils completed the signing of Tyrell Malacia today on a four-year deal with the option to extend for another year. The player had already informed Lyon of his preference to join Ten Hag’s side.

Tyrell Malacia, Manchester United
Image obtained via 90min

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was generous in praising the youngster’s development:

“If you can play against Germany like this, you can of course reach a higher level.

“I like it, because I recognize a lot in Tyrell. He follows the route I have also taken: academy, Feyenoord, and then the step abroad is the next. 

“He has been with Feyenoord for a long time now, at a certain point you feel that the time is right. Then you will play at a higher level with better fellow players and pick yourself up at that level.

“He already did it for the Dutch national team. So if you ask me if Tyrell is ready for a step up, I say: 100 per cent.”

With Malacia moving to United, it will pose some difficult questions. Manchester United already have Luke Shaw and Alex Telles playing down the left. Brandon Williams has also returned from a loan stint at Norwich City, but he will almost certainly leave once again. The Red Devils have fixed an asking price of £10 million for the versatile 21-year-old.

Alex Telles could also be shown the exit door as per reports. He signed for the Red Devils from FC Porto two seasons ago on a 4-year deal for a fee of £15.4 million. However, across two seasons, Telles has managed just 50 appearances across all competitions for the Manchester club (stats via Transfermarkt).

Could Alex Telles Be Sacrificed To Clear Space In The First Team?

The 29-year-old was relegated to the role of a backup due to Luke Shaw’s tremendous form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Telles was given more prominence by interim manager Ralf Rangnick, but he failed to make an impression. In 21 league games, the Brazilian accumulated just 4 assists. His all-round game was lacking, and Telles was often faulty defensively. He also failed to assert himself on the overlap in an attacking role.

Alex Telles, Manchester United
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for the full-back. According to Correio da Manha (via The Sun), Porto are keeping tabs on Alex Telles and could be tempted to make a move for their former player. The player himself has hinted at a move back to Portugal. On the Wibcast podcast earlier this year, the defender was quoted:

“FC Porto is a love story, it was the club I most identified with, it was four years there. I identified with the city and made many friends, it has a special place in my heart.

Besides, my best career numbers were there, what made me come to Manchester United was what I did for FC Porto. I was very well received.

I am eternally grateful to the club and of course one day I think about going back there and continuing this cycle. It was a very happy period of my life.”

Alex Telles At United

Alex Telles was very important to Porto and the Brazilian NT at the time he signed for United. His struggles at United could be attributed to a combination of reasons:

  1. Telles did not have the best luck with injuries at United. The Brazilian missed almost 3 months of action across two seasons due to injuries and illnesses. An ankle injury also kept Telles out for the beginning of the 2021-22 season. [via Transfermarkt]
  2. Luke Shaw was one of the best full-backs in the league during Telles’ first season. The Englishman became undroppable during what was arguably the best spell in his injury-hit career. Shaw eventually carried his splendid form into England’s Euro campaign where they lost in the Final. Telles missed out on the Copa America due to injury, where Brazil incidentally also lost in the Final.
  3. Telles was given more minutes under Ralf Rangnick. However, it is important to understand some nuances of Rangnick’s “gegenpressing” system.

Rangnick largely used a 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 system. He often instructed his wingers to maintain somewhat narrow positions to facilitate high pressing. Furthermore, United’s wide men: Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Elanga and even Bruno Fernandes/Paul Pogba were all more comfortable operating in the half spaces. This meant that the full-backs were solely responsible for maintaining width.

Ralf Rangnick, Manchester United,Alex Telles
Ralf Rangnick asking Manchester United fullbacks to provide width

On top of this, the full-backs also had heightened defensive responsibilities. The high-pressing system often meant Scott McTominay, Fred or Nemanja Matic in the midfield double pivot left too much space between the lines. So the full-backs had the responsibility to provide a solid attacking outlet on the wings, and still compensate in defence.

Alex Telles has to stay behind to stop the opposition winger

Unsurprisingly, almost all of United’s full-backs struggled last season. Barring Diogo Dalot, none of Rangnick’s options could impress. Telles’ game was also undoubtedly affected by the high demand of the German. Despite being renowned for his attacking prowess, the Brazilian simply did not do enough to trouble the opposition defenders, and failed to feed the forwards like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sancho and Rashford. According to fbref, Telles managed just 0.33 crosses into the box every 90 minutes. He also completed less than one successful dribble every 90 minutes.

Erik ten Hag uses his full-backs differently. At Ajax, the Dutchman did allow his players to overlap and join the attack. However, Ten Hag’s preferred combination of Daley Blind and Noussair Mazraoui often played in an inverted role, or as a third CB. Such a tactic could be more suited to Telles’ playing style. In fact, Porto occasionally deployed the Brazilian in the midfield too. Telles’s performances may improve in an inverted role under Ten Hag.

Ten Hag’s use of full-backs at Ajax. It was common to see Mazraoui invert as an advanced 8, a 6, or play on the overlap.

Read More:

Verdict:

Alex Telles would be a better fit under Ten Hag than he has been under Solskjaer or Rangnick. However, with the arrival of Malacia, the former Inter Milan man remains United’s most disposable option. Currently 29, the Brazilian left-back still has a contract for another 2 years at Old Trafford.

Reports in January suggested that United wanted about £13 million for the full-back. If the sale is delayed, Alex Telles will only become harder to offload. Tyrell Malacia appears to be a very bright talent, and the Red Devils wouldn’t have risked missing out on him.

Do you think Manchester United should sell Alex Telles? Or could the Brazilian have a future under Ten Hag? Let us know in the comments.

Follow AD for the Latest Transfer Updates for Manchester United.

Adithya Ravi
Football enthusiast. Stat enthusiast

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Top