DONNY VAN DE BEEK should not have joined Manchester United, according to former Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal.
The midfielder has struggled for game time since his summer switch from Ajax and Van Gaal thinks he will continue to find it difficult as he ‘does not have the qualities of Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes’.
Louis van Gaal does not think Donny van de Beek should have joined Man UtdCredit: Getty – Pool
Former United manager Van Gaal said the Dutchman does not have the qualities of Paul Pogba or Bruno FernandesCredit: Rex Features
Van de Beek, 23, arrived at Old Trafford in a £39million deal in September.
United’s No34 has made 16 appearances in all competitions this season but has completed 90 minutes just three times.
And Van Gaal told Dutch channel Ziggo: “I hope his time will come, but I don’t think he made a good choice.
“I said that right away. If you have Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, what position should Van de Beek be in?
“He doesn’t have the qualities of Pogba and Fernandes. And now you see that Pogba often doesn’t start. Where should Van de Beek play then?
“I think you could have seen that beforehand. There are so many teams, which could have done better justice to him, also in the top.
“He is a boy with many qualities.”
Earlier this month, Van de Beek insisted he is happy at United despite the lack of game time.
He said: “I just work hard every day and I know that I can give the team something extra and help a lot. I was just patient.
“I play with new team-mates and you need to understand each other. We understand each other.
“Also in Ajax before, I played in a lot of different positions. I played No8, No10 and even No6 so I am used to it and playing a lot of different positions.”
Bruno Fernandes also insisted he can play alongside the Dutchman who he called ‘quality’.
⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk