Donny van de Beek looks back on 'tough' Man Utd spell

Donny van de Beek has admitted it was «tough» being at Manchester United and not playing as he now prepares to resurrect his career during an initial loan with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Van de Beek joined the Bundesliga club until the end of the end of the season on the very first day of the January transfer window. The loan agreement includes an option for a permanent deal for up to €14m (£12m), inclusive of add-ons.

The biggest thing for the Dutch midfielder is getting back to playing regularly after making only 69 club appearances – including an unsuccessful loan at Everton – in the last three and a half seasons. He had played almost as many (57) during his outstanding 2018/19 campaign at Ajax alone.

«If you don't play as many games as you want, it's tough, but that's the past now,» Van de Beek reflected on his time with United upon being presented to the media in Germany.

«I'm [with Eintracht now] now and I'm positive, which is the most important thing and then things can change. I'm looking forward now.»

Van de Beek arrived at Old Trafford in a £40m deal in the summer of 2020. He had established a reputation as a goalscoring midfielder with Ajax, finding the net 17 times during 2018/19 as the club got to within a kick of the Champions League final, and earned a Ballon d'Or nomination.

Expectation about what he should have been capable of delivering in a United shirt was therefore high and it was a promising start when he scored off the bench on his Premier League debut, albeit in a shock 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

Yet Van de Beek struggled to get up to speed and by the end of that maiden season had only started four Premier League games, two of which were in the final month of the campaign. He was no more in favour in