Gary Neville admits he’s “baffled” by the treatment of midfielder Donny van de Beek since his summer move to Man Utd.
Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford in the summer transfer window from Dutch side Ajax for a fee believed to be around £40m.
The midfielder was part of the Ajax side which reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and much was expected of the new Man Utd signing.
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However, Van de Beek has largely failed to have an impact at Man Utd with Solskjaer only affording him two starts in the Premier League this campaign.
Speaking on Twitter during a Q&A, Neville said: “I’m baffled by what’s happening with him. He must be really low.”
I’m baffled by what’s happening with him. He must be really low. https://t.co/8bGnrQISAx
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 9, 2021
Neville said earlier in the season that he couldn’t get his “head around” the situation and that Van de Beek’s arrival could be in anticipation of a summer departure.
“It’s interesting, something’s happened – the Van de Beek signing’s an interesting one – I still can’t get my head around it,” Neville told Sky Sports in January.
“It’s almost as if that signing was sort of done in anticipation of one of the others leaving because Van de Beek has just sat on the bench for the last few months and he cost £40m. I think that Manchester United are preparing for someone leaving.
“Nemanja Matic might be finishing at the end of next season, maybe, maybe Pogba could leave.
“So they’ve already got Van de Beek in to maybe assume that role, but I think now, the way Paul Pogba’s playing and the way Manchester United’s season is going, there’s no one who’s going to come in in January and buy Paul Pogba, I don’t think Manchester United would let him go.”
Meanwhile, Solskjaer spoke out earlier this year on the criticism he had received for his handling of Van de Beek, he said: “There are so many examples of players needing a little bit of time, quality players, we have many examples ourselves and there are other clubs with examples and sometimes it takes time.
“You don’t expect people who care for him to be quiet at times, especially when they want the best for them. Donny is going to play tomorrow, it’s another chance for him.
“And, yes, I’ve spoken to him and made him aware of how much we rate him, but he will play tomorrow and it’s a good chance again for him to kick on.”
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