Monday, October 11, 2021 at 1:42 PM• Yanick Vos

Paul Ince says Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ‘blatantly lied’ to Donny van de Beek. In the Kelly and Wrighty Show the former English international states that the ex-midfielder of Ajax would do well to leave in January. Van de Beek has to settle for a supporting role at Old Trafford for the second season in a row.

Manchester United paid Van de Beek an amount of at least 39 million euros in the summer of last year. The the Dutch international is currently suffering from stiff competition in midfield. Last summer, the midfielder bet on a departure, but Solskjaer did not want to let him go. This season, Van de Beek is again frequently on the bench and has to make do with few opportunities. Ince thinks Solskjaer was not honest with the ex-Ajacied when he made the switch last year.

Ince, former player of Manchester United, states that a player asks his new coach where he will play and how he fits into the team. “As a trainer you then have two options: you can tell the truth or not tell the truth. Looking at the past year and a half, Donny hasn’t been told the truth. He barely got any playing time. Solskjaer has 35 million pounds on the bench,” Ince refers to the transfer fee, which can rise to 44 million euros via bonuses.

According to Ince, Van de Beek would have no right to speak if Manchester United played and perform well. “You can’t tell me that Fred, Scott McTominay and even Paul Pogba play well every week, because that’s just not the case,” Ince points to Van de Beek’s competitors. “But he sets them up every time. If I were sitting on the couch then I would be furious.” Van de Beek played only five minutes in the Premier League this season. In September, in the Champions League match against Young Boys (2-1 loss), he was already substituted after half. Even then Ince gave up to The United Stand already indicated that it was ‘over’ for Van de Beek at Manchester United.

Ince praises Van de Beek’s professional attitude, but advises him to leave Manchester United in January in the interests of his career. “Solskjaer claims that Van de Beek is in his plans, but that is just blatant lying.” In addition to McTominay, Fred and Pogba, Van de Beek also competes in midfield with Nemanja Matic, Bruno Fernandes and Juan Mata. Van de Beek is reportedly in the interest of Everton and Newcastle United. His contract in Manchester runs until mid-2025.