- 1 Nov 2024
Man Utd confident over Van de Beek future, says Van der Sar
Martin Macdonald
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:45 CDT
- 2 min read
Former Man Utd goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar claims that Donny van de Beek has the full backing to succeed at Old Trafford by figures within the club despite his underwhelming start to life in the Premier League.
Van de Beek signed for Man Utd’s in the summer as their marquee acquisition, joining from Ajax for a reported £35.7m [€39.4m].
However, he has started just two games in the Premier League and nine in all competitions for the Red Devils in 2020/21, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apparently taking time to embed him into the team.
Van der Sar, who is currently the chief executive of Van de Beek’s former club Ajax, has it on good authority that Man Utd believe in the player’s ability to be a success.
“I do talk to a lot of people at the club,” Van der Sar told Dutch Ziggo Sport.
“Fantastic attitude, he does well in training.
“It is difficult. [Paul] Pogba is coming back, [Bruno] Fernandes is very important, [Nemanja] Matic and [Scott] McTominay are also there.
“It’s no shame at all, it’s also a big club, isn’t it? Of course, it’s a large amount (Van de Beek’s transfer fee), but they are confident that he will get there.”
Solskjaer has been forced to defend Van de Beek in the past, too, and insisted that the Dutchman will eventually become a vital player for United.
“Donny has played well when he’s got the chance,” he said earlier this month.
“I think we are too quick sometimes to jump on that if he isn’t playing, that it is a failure.
“Victor [Lindelof] and Fred are good examples in my team that it takes a little bit of time and now they are massively important players in our squad and in our team and it will be the same with Donny.
“He has come in and is in a midfield pool of players with quality, challenging with Bruno [Fernandes], Juan [Mata], Jesse [Lingard].”
Van de Beek’s last minutes for United came in the FA Cup versus Watford.
