“Van de Beek will wonder: What am I doing here?”, this is how United legend Gary Neville summed up in Sky Sports, a new replacement for the brand new signing of Old Trafford. When in early September United made official the arrival of Donny Van de Beek (23 years old) for 45 million euros all football experts praise the good eye of the leaders of the 'Red Devils'. They considered the arrival of the Dutch international as a great signing and the leap in quality that the Old Trafford club needed. Almost two months later, the reality is quite different around the Dutch.
The ostracism that Van de Beek has suffered since his arrival at the Premier is becoming worrying. His adaptation to the way and the way of playing in English football is lengthening in time. Their numbers don't lie. Just 59 minutes of play spread over four matches in the English league. Very little baggage. The lonely two minutes that Ole Sunnar Solskjaer gave him in Manchester United's debut in this edition of the Champions League against PSG drew attention. The Champions League, his fetish competition and the one that made him known with Ajax to the football world. He has only started United's two Carabao Cup matches against Luton and Brighton. The straw that broke the camel's back and set off the alarms was their lack of minutes in the clash against Chelsea last weekend (0-0). The Norwegian coach preferred Fred and McTominay as squires for Bruno Fernandes and Pogba as a revulsive. The '34' spent the whole game on the bench.
“Why did we buy Van de Beek?”
What used to be praise is now turning into criticism. Quite an avalanche in the last hours. The last to join the suitability or not of the signing of Van de Beek has been the always vivacious Patrick Evra: “Why did we buy van de Beek? I have nothing against him but he is watching the game from the stands. We do not need it. No one will tell but that's the truthFormer United star Gary Neville also added fuel to the fire on the underutilization of Van de Beek. “It doesn't seem to be in Solskjaer's plans. It's a bit mysterious that”. Dutch legend Marco van Basten also allowed himself to advise the former Ajax player: “You have to play every week, you can't do it 6 or 7 times a year. That's bad for his career.“. In the same vein it was Danny Blind: “What was he booked for? I listened to Solskjaer and he had nothing but praise for Donny. However, he didn't even get him out. He bought it to strengthen the team. Why not use that depth? His views are joined by Sjaak Swart, Ajax PR and legend of the ajacied, which was among the first to notice the substitutions of the Dutch talent.
The truth is that the game system used by United does not favor Van de Beek at all. Su position, behind the striker, is occupied by Bruno Fernandes, who at the moment is completely impossible to sit down. Solskjaer sees him as fundamental as a wardrobe, in a very long campaign for the red devils. “He's eager to play more, but it's going to be a long season and they'll see it, '' said the Norwegian. But for now does not give ball.