One Direction will never get over Zayn Malik's decision, says Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell said that One Direction will never get over Zayn Malik's departure. The 22-year-old singer announced his decision to leave the group in March this year, saying he wanted to have a normal life and spend some time away from the spotlights of fame and the press. Since then, he has spent some time with his bride, Little Mix's Perrie Edwards, and his family. Zayn has also been in studio working on some solo songs, although it has been reported recently that the record label - Syco - the same of One Direction, does not allow him to release new songs for two years.

In an interview with US TV show Extra, Simon Cowell revealed that he thinks Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson will ever get over Malik's decision. "Well, I don't think they'll ever be over it completely because they started off as a five-piece, so they're always going to miss him," he said. "But it happens".

Currently, the guys of the British band are touring in Europe and finishing their fifth studio album, the first without the participation of Zayn Malik. Simon thinks, however, that the crisis made the four boys become closer. "You've got to dig deep and you rely on each other", he added. "In a weird way they kind of got stronger through it."

In an interview on the Late Late Show, last month, One Direction confessed that at first they were upset with the decision of their friend and former companion. "We were angry at first, then a bit more disappointed, but we wish him the best of luck, there're no hard feelings", said Liam Payne. Moreover, they dedicated him an award that the band won in the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. "There's one more person to share this with", said Payne, "and that's our brother Zayn".

Recently, there were rumours among the directioners that Malik was considering returning to One Direction and that would happen for the concerts of On The Road Again Tour in North America. However, the singer's spokesman has denied the news that filled with hope the heart of many fans of the band and Zayn.