The Dutchman was due to join Real Madrid before financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic made Los Blancos pull out of the deal. Here we see why he fits the United project.
After receiving much criticism for a substantial lack of transfer activity so far this summer, Manchester United surprised everyone by sealing the signature of Donny Van de Beek from Ajax with remarkable speed.
The 23-year-old Dutch international moved from Ajax in $46m deal and $5m in add-ons. He signed a five-year deal worth $140k per week approx. with option for a further year.
A graduate of the famous Ajax Youth System, Van de Beek has emerged as a real Swiss-knife of a midfielder over the last few seasons. Standing six feet tall, he has excelled as an attacking midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, a defensive midfielder, and has even occasionally slotted in at centre-back – all the positions Man Utd could use some reinforcements in!
Last season, he bagged in 10 goals and 11 assists in 37 appearances for Ajax. The season before he scored 17 and assisted 13 in 57 appearances and was a crucial cog in the wheel during that Ajax Champions League run up to the semi-final. His capability to play different positions with ease will help Solskjær lessen the burden on its first XI players – especially midfielders. The lack of veritable options for the United manager to replace and rotate the players in the starting XI was there for everyone to see towards the end of last season – something that could seriously harm United in a season cramped by the Pandemic and saturated with fixtures. Donny could easily fit in Pogba’s, Bruno’s or Mati?’s positions when needed. This would not only help him slowly gel into the squad, but also provide much needed rotation to the players and the gaffer.
While we can totally expect Donny to eventually end up at any one fixed position, the current team scenario seems perfect for him grow and ply his trade in the Premier League. Hopefully, his arrival is not the only one United will have made by the time this transfer window shuts.
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