- Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek has failed to make an impact at Man United
- He has made just six Premier League starts in over three seasons at Old Trafford
- Inside Ange’s Spurs: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off on how he transformed the club
Donny van de Beek has revealed he feels it is time to leave Manchester United after a difficult spell at the club.
The Dutch midfielder, 26, joined United in a £35million deal from Ajax in 2020 and arrived with high expectations after he had played a key role in his boyhood side making the Champions League semi-finals in 2018-19 and winning a domestic double.
However, his time at Old Trafford has been hampered by a lack of form and fitness, with Van de Beek making just six Premier League starts in more than three seasons.
He spent a period on loan at Everton during the second half of the 2021-22 campaign but again struggled for gametime, racking up seven appearances and he has played just 21 minutes of football in all competitions this season.
And the Dutchman insisted that while he has no regrets about moving to the Premier League, he is ready for a new challenge in the New Year.
Donny van de Beek has admitted he is ready to leave Man United after a difficult three years
The Dutch midfielder, 26, (right) arrived with high hopes after joining for £35m from Ajax
‘I am bouncing to play matches again,’ he said, as quoted by The Mirror. ‘The manager is making different choices now. We have a big squad and I am not the only one knocking on the door. We’ll see in January what happens.
‘I need to start playing games very soon – if not at Man United then at another club. I think I have to be ambitious.
‘I have always been a lover of the game. I am absolutely crazy about football. I earn a good living at United, but money is not my motivation. I want to enjoy my work every day.’
Despite his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag coming to the club last season, Van de Beek continued to struggle for minutes before he suffered a serious knee injury.
He was close to a move to Real Sociedad in the summer to relaunch his career, but that ultimately fell through.
Van de Beek explained how he had found it tough not playing regularly and that he held no grudges against United, but felt he had lots to give in a new environment.
He added: ‘(After my injury) I appreciate even more now that I have a fabulous job. I am at a legendary club and I am still proud every day to wear the Manchester United shirt.
Despite his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag joining United, Van de Beek’s career has stagnated
The 26-year-old midfielder has made just six Premier League starts in more than three seasons
‘I had hoped for more games when I was playing well, so you get into a flow. But you have to deal with more factors.
‘Everyone wants to make United successful again, but they are not succeeding – and it’s hard to put your finger on it.
‘But I am bursting with energy now that I am fit again and I am really training like an animal. The time has come to make a different choice.’
United are back in action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the Toffees’ first game since they were handed a 10-point deduction by the Premier League for breaking financial rules.
