I love it at United, a great vibe... but if I’m not playing, I’m not staying
SAYS DONNY VAN DE BEEK
MANCHESTER UNITED misfit Donny van de Beek has admitted he needs to quit Old Trafford.
The Dutch midfielder insists he has no regrets about joining United in a £35million deal just over three years ago, despite making just six Premier League starts since then.
Van de Beek, signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, failed to nail down a regular place under the Norwegian.
And his hopes of finding his feet under his former Ajax coach Erik ten Hag were wrecked by a knee injury that sidelined him for much of last season.
The 26-year-old is desperate for a fresh challenge and wants to leave United when the January transfer window opens.
Van de Beek, who has made just two substitute appearances this season, said: ‘’I am bouncing to play matches again.
“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 here, 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 Man United, but money is not my motivation... I want to enjoy my work every day.”
Van de Beek arrived in Manchester with a huge reputation after winning a Dutch double with Ajax in 2019 and starring in their march to the Champions League semi-finals.
He spent six months on loan at Everton in 2022 in a bid to prove himself in the Premier League.
And when Ten Hag became boss later that year, he hoped to finally get a chance with the Red Devils.
Van de Beek added: “Last season, I was sidelined for months due to my knee injury. You miss it terribly. I appreciate even more 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.
“But I am bursting with energy now that I am top fit again and really training like an animal.
“The time has come to make a different choice.”
A move to Real Sociedad collapsed last summer when the Spanish club failed to reach an agreement with United. Now, he insists it is time to move on.
Van de Beek said: “I had had five seasons in the first team of Ajax, won trophies, played Champions League – we beat Juventus, Bayern, Real Madrid – and then Manchester United came along.
“You just don’t say no to Man United then, nobody would.
“Despite the huge size of the club and the volatile period United are going through, for me it remains a very warm club. A family club, too. Yes, really. There are so many nice and kind people working here, you build a bond with them. “Those people have been there all their lives, from the kit man to the lady behind the counter I see every morning. “There is so much passion for their club, you saw that again around the death of our legend Bobby Charlton.
“I’m the first to take a ‘I am crazy about football... top fit now and training like an animal’ critical look at myself. People talk about this being a mega club. That is true, but even then it is hard to see from the outside how big the club really is.
“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.”