Donny van de Beek has yet to show his quality on a consistent basis since moving to Manchester United in September 2020; the 24-year-old tells Rio Ferdinand's FIVE podcast about his relationship with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and what he considers his best position to be
Tuesday 7 September 2021 07:32, UK
Donny van de Beek has opened up on his relationship with Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he addressed speculation about his future at Old Trafford.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand's FIVE podcast, the 24-year-old insists he trusts Solskjaer, as he looks to kick on in his second season in England following his £39m deal from Ajax in September 2020.
He also addressed claims he might have departed United in the recent summer window, with the Dutchman revealing positive discussions with the club ended any prospect of a premature exit.
"I speak with the manager about it and the club," Van de Beek told Ferdinand's FIVE podcast. "They were clear they wanted me to stay here. The manager was really positive about me and he said, 'I need you and I want to keep you here'.
"Of course, what I see here now in the beginning of the season is difficult because I didn't play one minute, but he said, 'What I see every day in training, I see a different Donny now'.
"I need to trust him. If he doesn't need me, I think he will let me go. I think he has plans with me."
Playing against the backdrop of a global pandemic and adjusting to a new country made the acclimatisation process for Van de Beek a challenge.
The midfielder has yet to deliver consistently at United, displaying flashes of the form and potential that he showed after coming through the youth system at Ajax.
However, he has started just four Premier League games since his arrival, and it has not always been entirely clear if Solskjaer knows what Van de Beek's best position is - something the player acknowledged.
"This is football and I think you can never promise a player if he will play - or not. You can train every day hard, but in the end you need game time to show your best shape. If you play once in a month or anything, you cannot show your best," Van de Beek added.
"I think I can do (play as a six) but, of course, I don't know what the manager thinks or what he expects from me. I've played in this role before with Ajax.
"That depends on how you play as a team. For how we play, I think the best position for me is a number six or eight."
Cristiano Ronaldo is in line for his second Manchester United debut against Newcastle when the Premier League returns after the international break - and you can watch free match highlights of the game shortly after full-time with Sky Sports.
How to follow...
Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday September 11 (3pm kick-off).
You can follow the game with our live blog on the Sky Sports website and app - and get details of Solskjaer's starting line-up as soon as the teams are announced at 2pm.
You won't need to wait long to see the match highlights - we'll bring them to you for free from 5.15pm on the Sky Sports website and app, as well as on our Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
And we'll serve up the best stats, analysis and reaction after the game.
