Dutch midfielder, Donny van de Beek has declared that his time is “definitely coming” at Manchester United following his difficult start to life at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek has found game time increasingly difficult to come by at United since completing his switch from Ajax and has yet to start a game in the Premier League.
The current situation has puzzled more than a few as van de Beek is a big money signing.
He joined United in a deal that could rise to £39.1million (€44m) but the 23-year-old has only seen 75 minutes of Premier League action, scoring once, while he has started twice in the Champions League and twice in the EFL Cup this term.
Asked about his situation in Manchester after scoring in the Netherlands’ 1-1 friendly draw with Spain on Wednesday, Van de Beek said he would like to play more at United but expressed confidence that his opportunities will come.
“It sounds cliché for me to say this, because of course I would have liked to play more, but I really enjoy being in a nice team. I am simply received very well and helped by everyone,” he told NOS.
“I’m a patient person, but of course you go there to play as much as possible. I also think – in the minutes that I have made, in the times that I have come in – I have shown that I can add something to the team.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s midfield options include stars Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Fred, Nemanja Matic and Scott McTominay.United manager Solskjaer has preferred a midfield duo of Fred and McTominay just behind Fernandes in games against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United, with Pogba and Van de Beek on the bench in last week’s win over Everton.
In his limited Premier League minutes, Van de Beek has a passing accuracy of 83.33 per cent – better than Pogba and Fernandes.
In the Champions League through three matchdays, Van de Beek boasts a passing accuracy of 92 per cent, better than Matic (89.4), Pogba (85.5), Fred (84.1), McTominay (83) and Fernandes (73.3).
Van de Beek added: “What does he [Solskjaer] say to me? That I have to be patient, but also that I just have to continue with what I am doing.
“And that he’s seen that I have a good impact when I come into the field. My time is definitely coming. And when those opportunities come, I have to be there.”
