Every start that Donny van de Beek has made for Manchester United has cost them £1.25 million.
Van van Beek left Ajax in September 2020 and signed for £35 million. Since then, he has made just 28 starts. His career took off in Amsterdam but has dramatically declined in Manchester, and this season, his absence from every matchday squad hasn’t made news.
The player’s status in the locker room has declined significantly, as seen by FC Lorient and Galatasaray’s interest in luring him away on loan during the summer transfer window.
Lorient of France ended in the middle of the pack in Ligue 1 last year, while the Süper Lig of Turkey isn’t exactly renowned for its caliber. Van van Beek was once one of the most sought-after actors in Europe, but now he is associated with mysterious locales.
When queried about Van de Beek in November, Ten Hag responded, “I’ve known him better. But I believe he’s acting fairly well from a positional standpoint. He must, however, take that next step. A loan doesn’t, in my opinion, make sense.
In this climate and atmosphere, he has to choose between fighting and proving himself or leaving. But for me, he can still find a way. The competition there is really fierce, so it won’t be simple.
Van van Beek has made an effort to stand up for himself, but it hasn’t been successful for him. During the player’s three-year tenure, four different managers have overseen him, and each of them has come to the same conclusion.
Van van Beek is undoubtedly a talented player, but it appears that the club and league are the wrong fit for him. He has outstayed his welcome and hasn’t been able to match his Eredivisie performances.
To be fair to the 26-year-old, during a preseason friendly against Lyon at Murrayfield in July, he agreed to speak to journalists and declared outright that leaving to find regular playing time was his best choice.
“At the moment, I’m unsure of my future. I try to push as hard as I can because I’ve recovered from my injury and am now healthy, so I play my first minutes after working out for a few weeks,” De Beek said.
“Since anything might happen at any time, it’s difficult to predict what my future holds right now. Let’s see what happens. In football, you never know, especially with me.
When asked if the door at Old Trafford was still open for him, Van de Beek replied, “Yeah, but it’s also a possibility that I move, so everything is open. Now, it’s difficult to predict what my future holds.I’m pressing on while concentrating on getting as fit as I can.
Van van Beek planned to leave this summer for a new beginning, but the opportunity has closed and he is still with the team. Although the transfer period for the Saudi Pro League is still open, he would undoubtedly be below that level.
Van van Beek needs to restart his career by joining a reputable club in Europe, yet the lack of interest he received this summer implies he may have to settle for less in order to start over.
The Dutchman is yet to be named in a first-team squad this season and it’s a shame his career has regressed so much. He’ll now have to wait until January for the chance of a move and he should seek a permanent exit for the sake of his future.
The greatest of Van de Beek’s career is yet to come, and after he fully recovers from his injury, he will be optimistic about giving his career fresh life. It is believed that the European football style would fit him better and allow him to leave his experience in England in the past.
Understandably, United supporters stopped hoping Van de Beek would turn their career around long ago.
Only a January transfer can give the player any prospect of leaving.