October 18th 2024.
In the summer of 2024, Donny van de Beek made the decision to leave Manchester United. It was no secret that his time at the club had been far from successful. The Dutch midfielder, who had joined the Red Devils for a hefty fee of £40 million in 2020, had only managed to make 42 appearances in the Premier League.
There had been high hopes for Van de Beek when he first arrived at Old Trafford, especially from his former manager at Ajax, Erik ten Hag. However, things just didn't click for the midfielder in England. In July, he made the switch to Girona, signing a four-year deal for less than £500,000. It was a huge loss for Manchester United, but Van de Beek was ready to move on.
Reflecting on his time at Manchester United, Van de Beek opened up to The Athletic about his experience. He admitted that the start of his career at the club had been promising, but for some reason, he wasn't able to maintain that level of performance. When asked to elaborate, Van de Beek politely asked the reporter to "move on" to a different subject. It was clear that talking about his relationship with Ten Hag was a painful topic for him.
Van de Beek also mentioned that he had been unlucky with injuries during his time at Manchester United. He believed that if he had been able to play more, he would have been able to find his rhythm and perform better. Unfortunately, an injury in January of 2023 set him back and he found himself back on the sidelines. It was a tough blow for the midfielder, especially since he felt like he was just starting to get into the flow of things.
Now, Van de Beek is looking to revive his career at Girona. He spoke highly of the club and his new teammates, saying that they are still in the process of building something special. In fact, he had been in talks with the club since January and was convinced to join them early on in the transfer window. He also mentioned that he had spoken to former Manchester United player Daley Blind and other members of the Girona club, who had all convinced him of the project and the way they wanted to play.
As for Manchester United, they have struggled in the 2024-25 season, currently sitting at 14th in the table. It's a stark contrast to Girona, who finished third in La Liga last season and qualified for the Champions League. Van de Beek's former club may be struggling, but the midfielder has moved on and is focused on his new journey with Girona. He hopes to make a positive impact and continue to grow and improve as a player.
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