Grounded. Humble. Popular with his fellow pros. But also willing to confront the biggest names - including Dick Advocaat. Tyrell Malacia brings all this to Manchester United's combustible dressing room for the new season...

The revelation that Erik ten Hag spent hours on the phone - forlornly - trying to convince Nemanja Matic to resist another reunion with Jose Mourinho at AS Roma came as no surprise. Ten Hag couldn't guarantee the veteran midfielder a regular game, but he knew what he'd lose in terms of leadership and character with the Serb's departure.

The first signing of this Ten Hag era runs along a similar vein. Malacia arrives from Feyenoord to play. There's no doubt about that. But the Holland left-back also arrives to lift the dressing room. A player to set an example for others. The £15m paid for his transfer doesn't inspire headlines. His natural position as a left-back also isn't something to set the pulse racing. But in terms of a first signing for a new manager. For one to point to and set out your stall. Ten Hag couldn't have chosen better than Tyrell Malacia.

On the pitch, Malacia - at 22 - is on track to becoming a giant. Those who know about these things. Who write and talk about this game in Holland. They say Malacia is the real deal. The move to United no great surprise for those working within Dutch football.

Royston Drenthe, who like Malacia came through the Feyenoord system, is a confirmed fan.

"I think I recognise a lot of myself in him, as a Rotterdam boy anyway," says Drenthe, formerly of Real Madrid. "It's nice to see that he has not only worked his way up to a fixed value, but into becoming a very important pawn within Feyenoord 1. I can enjoy that when I see him play.

"He is already a fantastic left back. He can easily be compared to a left back like Ferland Mendy at Real Madrid."

Another former Rotterdammer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, echoes Drenthe's impressions. The Rangers manager, of course once of Arsenal and Barcelona, also sees a lot of himself in Malacia.

"I like him, because I recognise a lot of myself in Tyrell," says Van Bronckhorst. "He follows the route I have taken: academy, Feyenoord 1, and then the step abroad is next.

"He already did it for the Dutch national team. If you ask me if Tyrell is ready for a step up, I say: one hundred percent."

Cut the Feyenoord connection and they're still climbing over eachother to talk up United's new No12.

The former Ajax and Barcelona midfielder Ronald de Boer insists: "He is fast, strong and can play one-on-one very well. He has everything in him, he can also contribute offensively. In my view, he is THE left back for us in the coming years."

The infamously difficult to please Wim Kieft also recently dedicated a column of his to Malacia. As we say, Kieft isn't one to throw around praise easily, but the development of Malacia over these past 18 months has left him impressed.

"Malacia is not a big and strong defender, but makes up for this with speed and insight. Because he is quite a hot-tempered player, who prefers to perform everything at a fast pace, he would suffer too many losses of the ball in the build-up. But now over time, Malacia has become calmer on the ball, he chooses the right moments better and is therefore of much more value to Feyenoord."

So they have one, do United. A player, as far as Dutch football is concerned, with world-beater potential. One long time scouting source, who counts Everton amongst his old employers, urged this column to "think back to Gabby Heinze at United". Like the Argentine, who's impact with United would eventually get him a move to Real Madrid, Malacia's greatest strengths are in his defending. His aggression. And his take-no-prisoners attitude. A different type of left-back compared to his now senior colleague Luke Shaw.

"It'll go one of two ways," our scout says. "It's either Malacia or Shaw. Like with (Alex) Telles, Malacia will either force Shaw to go to another level, or he'll take that position for himself and relegate Shaw to understudy."

In other words, it's a career move in more ways than one for the Dutchman.

And he'll be ready to fight. As we say, Malacia has a quiet, humble character. But he also knows how to force himself out of his shell when needed. He did as much as a youth teamer at Feyenoord when his progress began to meander.

"That amiable attitude doesn't always help you," said Malacia, recalling a crunch career moment as a 17 year-old. "It leads to frustration if you don't express irritations. My game deteriorated because of it."

The change in Malacia was inspired by the arrival of Dick Advocaat. The Dutch great took the young fullback under his wing. His approach lifted the confidence in Malacia, to the point where he wasn't shy in even suggesting his manager change his ways.

"Because of that confidence, I started to say something more," he recalled. "We had a lot of discussions at the training sessions. I've also said that I couldn't take it very well when the trainer on the touch line yelled at me all the time. He then tried to do less. But that's hard for him, haha. Mr. Advocaat is a wonderful man."

One famous encounter last season came against Ajax and the Manchester United-linked Antony. The one-on-one clash was later likened to a prize fight, though both men ended the game full of mutual respect.

"I respect him very much. I think he is a very good defender, a difficult opponent," said Antony, who proved the matchwinner on the day. "I appreciate that he defends his club's shirt as well as I do. But the match was bigger than just the Antony-Malacia duel. But I look back on it with satisfaction."

In response, Malacia stated: "I also thought it was beautiful, I have a lot of respect for him, he for me. Yes, he grabs everything, there are boys who go along with it, lose their heads, but that is of no use to you."

A real player's player. A real pundit's player. In terms of the Dutch game, Manchester United have found one. To launch this new era, Erik ten Hag couldn't chosen better for his first signing than Tyrell Malacia.