Forgotten Man Utd player steps up transfer exit plan after featuring in secret friendly
Donny van de Beek, a 26-year-old Dutch midfielder, participated in a closed-door friendly for Manchester United against Hull City on Tuesday
Despite his limited playing time in the Premier League this season, he joined Antony and Hannibal Mejbri in the match, resulting in a 1-1 draw, as reported by The Manchester Evening News.
Van de Beek is currently facing a lack of opportunities at Old Trafford.
Despite appearing to have no role in Erik ten Hag’s strategies, Donny van de Beek had already fallen out of favor long before the arrival of the Dutchman in Manchester.
Since joining the club in 2020, Van de Beek has only started six league matches, struggling to make an impression on managers such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
With a failed transfer during the summer, it appears highly improbable that Manchester United would obstruct Donny van de Beek’s departure if an opportunity arises in January.
Erik ten Hag signaled the end of Van de Beek’s time at the club in September by excluding him from the 25-man Champions League squad, despite the midfielder being a key player under Ten Hag at Ajax.
While many anticipated a potential career revival for Van de Beek under Ten Hag’s management at Old Trafford, if anything, his standing at United has diminished further during Ten Hag’s tenure.
To be fair, Ten Hag didn’t mince words when providing a straightforward evaluation of his former favorite’s time in the Premier League, making it evident that he wouldn’t be extending any special considerations to him at his new club.
“I’ve seen him better in the past,” Ten Hag said back in November 2022. “But I think positioning-wise, he’s acting quite well. But he has to make that step up. I don’t think a loan (makes) sense. It’s either he fights… and proves himself, in this atmosphere in this environment, or he goes.”
The rise of Hannibal and the emergence of academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo this season have pushed Donny van de Beek even lower in the pecking order, along with the summer acquisition of Mason Mount.
While there were purportedly inquiries from Turkish Super Lig clubs for Van de Beek’s services in the summer, the destination for the midfielder in the New Year remains uncertain if he does secure a move.
Forgotten Man Utd player steps up transfer exit plan after featuring in secret friendly
