Patrice Evra insists Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is right to keep Donny van de Beek on the bench and believes the midfielder was not an ‘urgent’ signing for Manchester United.
Following United’s goalless draw with Chelsea on Saturday, Evra, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, questioned United’s decision to sign Van de Beek and said the Netherlands international was not needed at Old Trafford.
Van de Beek is yet to start a Premier League game for United since his £35 million move from Ajax in the summer and was an unused substitute in United’s 0-0 draw with Frank Lampard’s side.
On Monday, Evra sought to clarify the comments he made on Sky Sports but reiterated that United should have addressed other areas in Solskjaer’s squad before signing Van de Beek.
The former United left-back also believes Van de Beek is not yet good enough to start ahead of Paul Pogba or Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
‘My dear United fans, recently I made a comment on Sky saying we don’t need Donny van de Beek,’ Evra said in a video on Instagram.
‘People have to understand on TV you have to get straight to the point, it’s not like you have time to explain why.
‘But I just feel like a few people try to insult my knowledge of football, all are born after the iPhone 10, so they don’t know we talk straight to the point, no filter.
‘When I say we don’t need him I will give you a few examples. Fred, Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic, you love them or you hate them, when we have to play a big game and we have to be strong, compact and run everywhere, they always deliver, this is my opinion.
‘Donny van de Beek is better than Paul Pogba? No. Different player, but no.
‘[Is he better than] Bruno Fernandes? No. He’s a good player. The way he played for Ajax, that’s what I want to see for Manchester United.
‘But we have one problem – how many games have United had this season, how many games has Van de Beek started?
‘That’s why I say we don’t need him. He wasn’t an urgency. But of course, we need a deep squad if we want to win many trophies. We need some players on the bench, and that’s where he is.
‘And I’m not happy with that. I feel sad for the kid because when you sign for a team, especially for £40 million, you expect to play more.
‘So don’t twist my words. He wasn’t an urgency. So please guys, forever red and I love this game.
‘Some people will say, ‘when Bruno Fernandes gets injured…’, that’s when you respect Donny van de Beek, and I will never disrespect him.’
