Donny van de Beek played his fiftieth game for Manchester United against Aston Villa (2-2) on Saturday. The Red Devils commented on this milestone through a tweet, something that generated some criticism. After all, Van de Beek was brought in by manager Ralf Rangnick a minute before the end: exemplary of the few chances he gets at Manchester United, where he was only nineteen times a basic player in more than a year and a half. The English branch of ESPN However, writes that a painful conclusion is being drawn within the club: Van de Beek is too slow to become an effective player in the Premier League.
In an analysis, the sports channel takes a closer look at the failed marriage between Van de Beek and Manchester United. That’s according to ESPN already started with the fact that the now departed manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer actually did not want the midfielder. Solskjaer had actually set his sights on the arrival of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in the summer of 2020. The former only came last summer, while Bellingham exchanged Birmingham City for Borussia Dortmund.
However, the department within Manchester United that is responsible for attracting players saw Van de Beek as an asset based on his performance at Ajax and age, which resulted in 39 million euros being paid for him. The Manchester United coaching staff found him technically in order, but at the same time believed that the necessary players with the same qualities belonged to the selection. For example, within Manchester United there would be little difference between Jesse Lingard and Van de Beek. For that reason, it is not considered surprising that Van de Beek gets little time to play.
“Sources also say that Van de Beek is too slow to be an effective Premier League player. Despite trying to get stronger physically, he lacks the strength needed for the highest level,” he wrote ESPN. The channel states that Van de Beek has won respect from the fans and players of Manchester United with his work ethic and tenacity. In the dressing room, the feeling would have been felt that Van de Beek did not get a chance to prove himself in a number of matches in a row and to gain confidence and match rhythm.
Towards the end of last season, Van de Beek was encouraged to do extra physical training. The belief was that more players will have a hard time during their first year in the Premier League. Van de Beek took that advice to heart, but despite this, Solksjaer hardly ever called on him this season. Nevertheless, Solskjaer prevented Van de Beek from leaving for Everton last summer. It was hoped that Van de Beek would play more often after Solksjaer’s departure, but under his temporary successor Ralf Rangnick, the number of playing minutes is limited.
ESPN concludes that it is no longer a question of whether, but when Van de Beek will leave Manchester United. The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday that the midfielder himself has put a line through a switch to Newcastle United. Despite the fact that Van de Beek only played 380 minutes, spread over 14 games, this season, Rangnick said he did not want to lose him in January. “I want Donny to stay. I had a talk with him two weeks ago and told him that I would advise him to stay until the end of the season. Van de Beek wants to go to the World Cup and Van Gaal has told him that he has to play regularly. I understand that, but we have a lot of competition in the squad.”