He has played just 141 minutes this season
Rio Ferdinand believes that one reason why Donny van de Beek is barely featuring for Manchester United could be due to him being ‘too nice and polite about the situation’.
The Dutchman has started in just 17 of his 39 appearances for the Red Devils, with just four coming in the Premier League this season.
Whilst van de Beek evidently doesn’t have a say on who exactly manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer choses to feature, Ferdinand thinks that the 24-year-old could maybe be handling the situation differently.
The former United defender believes that the ex-Ajax man’s ‘nice and polite’ personality could be one of the reasons why he isn’t getting much game time, but has told van de Beek to continue to ‘work hard’ as he suggests that this experience will help to build his ‘character and personality.’
Speaking on his FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand said: “I think the big thing with Donny van de Beek – and he’s a great guy, we’ve had him on the show before – he’s a really calm, relaxed guy.
“I think this is a funny situation because if he was a bad guy and he was volatile and he was loud, he’d be gone. He wouldn’t be at Man United.
“And sometimes when you’re too nice maybe, or you’re nice about a situation and you’re polite, you might not get the situation that you really require for yourself. And I think that’s probably the problem for someone like Donny van de Beek.”
The 42-year-old also revealed that he had recently spoke to the Dutchman personally, where he told him that if he continues to work hard, he will be able to look back on the current situation and think ‘that made me stronger’.
“I said to him, “Regardless of what happens man, just work hard” and I think he said that on the show,” said Ferdinand.
“And I said to him, ‘These experiences are what build people, they build you as a human being but they build you as a player: the character, the personality. And I think in time you’ll look back and think that made me stronger’.
“He will never see it now, but he’ll look back and go, ‘You know what, that helped make me get stronger’ and he can use this to fuel him and push him on in the next phase of his career when it comes.”
During United’s Champions League win over Villarreal last week, Van de Beek had to be consoled by team-mates Dean Henderson and Eric Bailly after throwing his chewing gum down in frustration when Fred was brought on instead of him.
Solskjaer has admitted that he understands the midfielder’s frustration over his lack of playing time, but also stated that there is no room for sulkers in his team.
Related links:
- Teammates console Donny Van De Beek after Fred is subbed on instead
- Donny Van de Beek urged to demand answers from Man United after ‘insulting’ sub
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tells Van de Beek he has no time for sulking
