(Football news) When Manchester United announced the signing of Donny van de Beek from Ajax for £35 million, the Dutch international midfielder was one of the hottest properties in Europe. He was linked with a move to Real Madrid not long before the switch to Old Trafford, a testament to how highly he is rated. Known for his football intelligence, brilliant link up play, the ability to play as a number 10, 8 and 6 and it seemed a sound buy for Manchester United at the time, especially as rumors continued to circulate about Paul Pogba’s departure to Real Madrid.

Since then, Van de Beek has made 36 appearances, starting just four games in the Premier League while making 15 appearances from the bench. He has been an unused substitute for more than 15 occasions. So where did it all go wrong? A player at the top of his game at Ajax does not become an overnight flop at Manchester United without even getting a chance to prove himself. Why are the likes of Fred or McTominay selected over Donny van de Beek, despite making blunders week in and out. Surely it can’t be all that bad.

All the evidence points at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not trusting Van de Beek to get the job done, which raises questions about why he was signed in the first place. Unlike other clubs, no player can sign at Manchester United unless the manager wants him in the team. Solskjaer has the power to veto the signing of any player, which means the Norwegian wanted the former Ajax midfielder in the summer of 2020. However, it’s never been clearer that the player needs game time and Solskjaer’s treatment of Van de Beek has resulted in a loss of confidence for the player.

It’s no wonder that Van de Beek’s agent looked for a move elsewhere for his client this summer and there was strong interest all over Europe for the Dutch maestro. A move to Everton was on the cards until Solskjaer intervened and blocked the move, insisting that Van de Beek will get opportunities at Manchester United this season. Since then, he has made only one appearance as a substitute in the recent game against Newcastle and was an unused substitute against  Leeds, Southampton and Wolves.

The Premier League is often described as the toughest and fastest in the world and players often take time to adapt to the physical nature of the game in England. A difference between Donny van de Beek who joined Manchester United and the one who is eager to make a mark now is his physique. The Dutch international has hit the weights in the summer in a carefully devised plan to cope with the demands of the league and is doing all he can to make this season count. With Scott McTominay injured and Matic being 33 years old, if Donny van de Beek doesn’t get his chance at Manchester United now, he probably never will.

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