Van Basten warns Van de Beek being a ‘big boy’ at Ajax is not same as cutting it at Man Utd after flop transfer
MARCO VAN BASTEN has warned Donny van de Beek being a ‘big boy’ at Ajax is not the same as cutting the mustard at Manchester United.
The Dutch midfielder, 24, joined the Old Trafford ranks in a £40million move from Ajax last summer.
Van de Beek signed a five-year deal at United in the process – but has made just THREE Premier League starts out of a possible 35, including Tuesday night’s match against Leicester.
And now Holland legend Van Basten has hit out at Van de Beek for assuming he can make it abroad just because he was a superstar in Amsterdam.
Three-time Ballon d’Or winner Van Basten told ZiggoSport: “It just shows what a great life [players] have when they play at Ajax.
“They all think very quickly that they are a big boy here and can make it in other countries.
“But in the Netherlands, there is a nice competition.
“In a team like Ajax you are really helped, especially in the No10 position.
“Then you often see that they go abroad and it is a different story.”
Van Basten did go on to say Van de Beek can carve out a career for himself at Man Utd – but must look out for himself.
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The Dutch legend continued: “You have to be able to take care of yourself.
“If you go to a club in another country, you have to be able to present yourself in that team in a way that the others will think: ‘He is one of us and with him we are going to win.'”
Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand recently lashed out at Man Utd for splashing out on Van de Beek if they never planned to play him – particularly with the move coming just months after signing Bruno Fernandes.
Ferdinand roared: “I think he would add value to this team, definitely.
“But he’s got to play in the position where Bruno Fernandes is playing and he’s not going to do that.
“Can he do it from No8 position or No6 when he’s holding? I think he can. He’s intelligent enough.
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“Ajax players are brought up to be intelligent footballers, they are able to play multiple positions, he can do that.
“It’s just obviously United want a stiffer central midfield area behind Bruno.
“I get that, given that’s got to be protecting the centre backs and that’s not going to be one of Van de Beek’s strengths.
“But then it begs the question: why buy him then?”