Donny van de Beek reflects on his time at Manchester United: ‘It didn’t work out, but I learnt a lot’

Former Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has given an insight into his disappointing time at Old Trafford in an interview with ESPN. The Dutchman made a permanent move to Girona in July, and believes the move away from England is a turning point in his career. Van de Beek featured just 62 times for United during his four seasons at the club. The former Ajax midfielder started just six times in the Premier League under Erik ten Hag.

’It’s an important moment in my career,’ Donny van de Beek said on his move to Girona. ‘It’s a nice club with good football, which I think I can help and I’ll work very hard. The most important thing is to enjoy it as well, from there on the success will come.’ Girona spent a reported €5m on the midfielder, who cost Manchester United around €44m back in 2020.

On his time at Old Trafford, Van de Beek said: ‘It’s clear that it didn’t work out for both sides, but that’s the past. I don’t have anything bad to say about the club. I didn’t play a lot of minutes but I learnt a lot, with great players around and good people at the club. There are good things I’ll take with me for the future.’

GBeNeFN | Jonas Fielding