Van de Beek gesture speaks volumes as he’s told to ‘pack bags’ and leave Man Utd
Every man and his dog has spoken for Donny van de Beek since he joined Manchester United from Ajax in the summer transfer window.
His advisor, Ajax legend Sjaak Swart, was the first person to break the ice, announcing: "A substitute, I don't like it at all. I couldn't do it myself, substituting in with four minutes left to play. Then you'd better let me sit down."
Former Netherlands midfielder Marco van Basten later chimed in: "Donny shouldn't have gone to United. When you're a good player you want to play every week.
"It's really bad for a player like Donny to play six or seven games this year. That's shocking for your rhythm."
Rafael van der Vaart had a different approach to help the Dutchman settle in at Old Trafford, by taking a swipe at his team-mates and manager's selection decisions.
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He said: "Wait? Patience? Would you like it if you are stuck on the bench? The players in front of you can't even kick a marble and [Solskjaer] still does not put you in the team.
"I would not be happy. I would certainly not be enjoying my football there. Look at the player Donny is and how he performs at international level. I would not have it."
The most recent bit of advice to come Van de Beek's way emerged this week, when the Dutchman was told to think about 'packing his bags straightaway'.
The advice came from a report in De Telegraaf, via Sport Witness, and suggested the midfielder should leave if he doesn't feature for United against Manchester City.
Van de Beek has struggled for minutes since signing for Manchester United, and had to wait ages before he was trusted to start a game for the Red Devils.
The Dutchman recently started in United's EFL Cup clash against Everton on December 23, but his last minutes in the Premier League were three days earlier against Leeds.
Since then the former Ajax man has not been handed any minutes over the Christmas and New Years period.
You'd think, given the advice he is getting from afar and the fact this season has been a frustrating one for Van de Beek, that he'd be unhappy at United.
But it seems this is far from the case.
Amid the noise this week, Manchester United published a piece on Van de Beek's home makeover that had fans talking.
In his front room at home, Van de Beek has a bright red pool table emblazoned with the Manchester United crest.
The gesture is, admittedly, only a small one. But it goes a long way to dispelling the notion that Van de Beek is unhappy at United or that he is listening to those speaking for him.
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