‘Absolutely no chance’ – Pundit orders Solskjaer to end harmful smokescreen over Man Utd star

Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Donny Van de Beek of Man Utd

Paul Ince has insisted that Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should stop making empty promises to Donny van de Beek.

The Netherlands midfielder arrived at Old Trafford as a marquee signing from Ajax last summer. However, he has struggled to settle in, mainly because of a lack of game time. Last term, he played 511 Premier League minutes, the equivalent of just under six full games.

This campaign, meanwhile, Van de Beek has only played 51 minutes, six in the top flight.

Indeed, the bulk of his action so far came with his start in Tuesday’s Champions League loss to Young Boys. Still, he only lasted 45 minutes before manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took him off.

Solskjaer said after the match: “The signs were there in the last five minutes of the first half that we were going to get crosses in the box.

“We knew they’d put the big tall striker on and we had to deal with their switches a lot better.”

According to ex-United midfielder Ince, Solskjaer should stop trying to appease Van de Beek.

Asked by The United Stand if he thinks the midfielder has a long-term future at Old Trafford, the pundit said: “Absolutely no chance! He’s tried to make the player happy [by playing him].

“It’s always tough when you don’t play to come and make an impression on your first start and to sub him off at half-time… what does it say to us, what does it say to the fans?

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“What does it say to Donny? ‘If I can’t get a full game against Young Boys, ten men or no ten men, then it’s time for me to go.’

“‘There’s nothing Ole could say that would persuade me that my future is at Manchester United. I wish it was because it’s the biggest club in the world but he needs to play football.'”

Transfer reports have claimed that Van de Beek could leave as soon as the January transfer window.

According to Ince, United would be wise to let the player move on and seek proper game time.

Van de Beek must leave

Donny van de Beek, Man Utd midfielder

“[Scott] McTominay is back now, [Nemanja] Matic – who I love – is back, he’s got Fred,” Ince added.

“He’s never not going to play [Bruno] Fernandes or [Paul] Pogba, he’s got [Jesse] Lingard who can play in that role so the signs are there and I expect him to be gone in January.

“Whether it’s a loan… they won’t be getting the money back that they paid for him.

“You feel sorry for him because he looks like a nice lad, looks like he wants to do well, looks like the ultimate professional and he must know now that the writing is on the wall, unfortunately.”

Van de Beek has made 38 appearances overall for United, scoring one goal and assisting two others. However, that goal came on his debut, a substitute appearance against Crystal Palace at the start of last season.


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