Van Persie: Donny has to adjust to this beast of a club
FORMER United forward Robin van Persie has delivered his verdict on Donny van de Beek.
Van Persie has moved to warn Van de Beek about the expectancy that will be on his shoulders at Old Trafford.
“Donny van de Beek is 23 years old and that is a nice age to make a transfer to the Premier League,” he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
“I was a bit younger when I went to Arsenal, and in the locker room, I was considered a player for the future.
“Winning the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord meant nothing. The
Premier League is a completely different world.
“Donny will be brought in as a major purchase for Manchester United, but he will discover that those other 22 players have also been brought in as a ‘major purchase’. One had an even bigger transfer than the other.
“It means that he has to stand there right away and he has to mentally adjust to that. Because Manchester United is in every way a beast of a club.”
But Van Persie does believe that Van de Beek’s experience of playing in the Champions League will work in his favour.
“Physically I don’t foresee any problems for Donny. His walking actions are his biggest weapon,” he added.
“He is also able to play 60 games a year. Easy games just aren’t there any more. Especially against Fulham or Crystal Palace, you have to play the most.
“At every duel, even at every throw, those opponents pound on you.
“He has the advantage that he has gained a lot of experience in the last two seasons in Europe.
“The year in which Ajax reached the semi-finals of the Champions League was his big breakthrough.”