When Manchester United had announced the signing of 23-year-old Ajax midfield sensation Donny van de Beek in September, it was described as a brilliant business between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the young Dutchman. But in football, lady luck and opinions have a tendency to change rather quickly, and now there are football pundits criticising this very move.
It has only been four months since van de Beek came to Old Trafford, but already his decision to sign with the 13-time Premier League champion has been deemed a mistake by some big names. Dutch legend Marco van Basten was one of the first ones to voice the opinion and now he has been joined by former Manchester United and Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal.
Van Gaal believes that in the current United set-up, in which there are players like Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, it is hard for van de Beek to shine.
“There are so many teams where Van de Beek would look better than at United. And those other teams I talk about are also in the top of Europe,” van Gaal told Mirror on Sunday
“I do hope for Van de Beek that his time will come at United, but in all honesty? No, he has not made the right choice. When you know Fernandes and Pogba are there, you don’t go there,” Van Gaal added.
Van de Beek has started just two of the 10 Premier League games he has played this season. He had come off the bench in his first game of the season to score a goal, but since then has not been able to find the back of the net. In total, he has made only 18 appearances in all competitions for United so far.
And after a sensational performance from Scott McTominay and Fred during the 6-2 win over Leeds United on Sunday, van de Beek may find himself slipping down the pecking order in the fight for a midfield spot.
“Those are the positions where Van de Beek is at his best. And Pogba is not even playing every week,” Van Gaal said.
“Fernandes is more important than anyone so he is always playing. And Van de Beek does not have the same quality as Fernandes,” the former Dutch manager further pointed out.
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