Donny van de Beek has struggled at Manchester United since signing from Ajax (Picture: Getty)
Dimitar Berbatov believes Donny van de Beek looks ‘lost’ at Manchester United and says the Netherlands international is ‘running out of time’ to save his Old Trafford career.
Much was expected of Van de Beek following his £40m move to the Theatre of Dreams from Dutch club Ajax in the summer of 2020.
The midfielder had spent five productive years at Ajax, establishing himself as one of the club’s most important players and helping them win the Eredivisie title, reach the Champions League semi-finals and the Europa League final.
But Van de Beek has endured a difficult time in Manchester, featuring in less than half of the Red Devils’ Premier League matches last season, with his most of his appearances coming from the bench.
The Dutchman was handed a rare start by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Tuesday as Manchester United visited Young Boys in the Champions League, but he was subbed off at half-time after the visitors had been reduced to ten men.
Berbatov believes the evening summed up Van de Beek’s frustrating spell at Man United and says it will be ‘very difficult’ for the player to save his career at Old Trafford.
‘Donny van de Beek looks lost. The midfielder is running out of time to save his United career,’ Berbatov told Betfair.
Dimitar Berbatov says time is running out for Van de Beek at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
‘He started against Young Boys but was substituted at half-time. This has been the story of his time at the club.
‘If he plays, he’s brought off. If he comes on, he gets 10 minutes. He never gets the chance to settle and show what he can do.
‘It’s just not working out for Van de Beek. It’s a pity because United paid big money for him. But this is what happens when you spend money just to satisfy your fans.
‘I still hope he gets a proper chance but it is going to be very difficult for him and the club may decide to cut their losses, if they can.’
Manchester United’s defeat to Young Boys was the club’s seventh in 11 Champions League matches under Solskjaer.
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Following the loss, some fans and pundits suggested the Norwegian boss should be sacked, but Berbatov has dismissed those calls as nonsense.
He added: ‘That record is not good enough. I get that but sometimes there is more to football than the statistics show.
‘Is Solskjaer’s job at risk after the defeat in Switzerland? Come on, you can’t be serious.
‘United have played four games in the Premier League and won three of them. One defeat in the Champions League does not put Ole’s job in jeopardy. I don’t see any point in discussing Solskjaer’s future so early in the season.
‘United have a strong squad, have made excellent signings who are bedding in, and we should judge them at the end of the group stage, not after one match.’
