Van de Beek asked about shock return after starring in Champions League

3 Oct 2024 14:45 BST
3 min read

Donny van de Beek was back to his best on Wednesday as Girona were defeated 3-2 by Feyenoord in the Champions League, and after the match, the former Manchester United and Ajax star was unexpectedly confronted by a transfer question.

Article continues under the video

Van de Beek was Girona’s player of the match, per FootballCritic, and was unfortunate to be on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Having only left Man Utd in the summer for the Spanish outfit, he was surprised to be asked about a possible return to Ajax and revealed that his decision to leave Old Trafford was an easy one to make.

Current ETV

ETV Range

€5.3M - €8.7M

Van de Beek made the move from the Premier League giants to Girona last summer for €500,000. It meant an end to an unpleasant time at Old Trafford, where he barely played.

A return to Ajax would have been an easy way out for the midfielder. But according to Van de Beek, who was speaking to ESPN, it was never a serious option: "No, because the contact with Girona was very early. That was already right after the season, so Ajax didn't really play. I was done with Girona quite quickly."

Van de Beek’s Man Utd ‘despair’

At the Spanish club, Van de Beek wants to start enjoying playing football again.

In an interview with the NOS, Van de Beek indicated that he had gone through a very difficult period at Man Utd.

“Of course I despaired for a while. I did have a lot of support from my family and relatives. But I also still love the game. I have faith in myself and I know what I can do. I will keep going,” says Van de Beek.

The right-footed player swapped Ajax for Manchester United in the summer of 2020. However, his time with the Red Devils was not a success. The attacking midfielder only scored two goals and provided two assists in 62 matches in all competitions.

He also failed to break through in England during an interim loan period at Everton. Van de Beek played seven official matches for the Toffees, in which he scored once.

In the winter of 2024, Manchester United loaned the right-footed player to Eintracht Frankfurt. In Germany, Van de Beek played eight matches in the Bundesliga, in which he failed to score or provide an assist. Partly due to injuries, his German adventure also turned out to be a fiasco.

At Getafe, though, it seems like he is belatedly getting back to being his old self.

Read more about: La Liga, Eredivisie, Premier League, Ajax, Girona, Man Utd, Donny van de Beek