Van de Beek told to ‘stay and fight’ at Man Utd amid Roma interest

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has been told to “stay and fight” for his place at Old Trafford amid reports that Roma wish to take him to Serie A next season.

Since making a big-money move to Man Utd from Ajax last summer, Van de Been has struggled for game time.

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The 24-year-old has featured for just a total of 1,181 minutes this season – equivalent to 12 complete matches – and has started only one Premier League fixture.

After being a pivotal player at Ajax, it is a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Van de Beek, who is having to compete with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba for space in the team.

But Marc Overmars, the sporting director at Ajax, has advised his former protégé to remain at Man Utd for another year.

“I think Donny should just fight, stay next year and try to claim a starting place. You shouldn’t leave so quickly,” he told NOS.

Will Man Utd sell Donny van de Beek?

With Pogba looking increasingly likely to stay at Man Utd for at least another season and Bruno going nowhere as he continues to star, the prospects for Van de Beek in the medium- and long-term look as bleak as they do in the immediate future.

Nevertheless, there has been no suggestion that he could be about to leave the club in the summer.

There is, however, interest from elsewhere.

Roma, who are seventh in Serie A, have made Van de Beek their top priority for a summer move, according to La Reppublica.

While a loan deal may make some sense to give him a season of game time, Man Utd may have to absorb some of the player’s €6 million-per-year salary, which is likely to be frowned upon.

In any case, the noises from Old Trafford suggest that Van de Beek very much remains in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans.