Donny van de Beek is going through similar problems that other former Ajax midfielders have experienced since leaving the club, according to Ruud Gullit.
Prior to his summer move to Manchester United, van de Beek had spent his entire career with Dutch giants Ajax.
The midfielder broke into their first team during the 2015/16 campaign. He scored 41 times from his 175 appearances for the club.
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In that time, he helped them win the league and cup double in 2018/19. That season they also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, but they were knocked out by Tottenham Hotspur.
The central midfielder has also been capped 17 times for the Dutch national team since his senior debut in 2017.
The 23-year-old joined Man United this summer for an initial fee of £35m. But his debut season in England has been tough for the Dutchman.
Van de Beek has only started twice in the Premier League so far, with most of his appearances coming in cup competitions. He only has one goal and one assist to his name from his 26 outings.
Writing in his column for De Telegraaf, Gullit said that Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is the only example of an ex-Ajax midfielder who has been able to adapt successfully to his “new environment”:
“Whether it was Davy Klaassen, Donny van de Beek, Lasse Schöne or Hakim Ziyech and even Frenkie de Jong. They are great players, but even they are struggling.
“De Jong is sometimes still a bit changeable. But he is the furthest one of all those players in adapting to his new club and new environment. It is no coincidence that he plays at FC Barcelona, at a club that is closest to Ajax in terms of philosophy.”
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