Manchester United loan midfielder praised after ‘very good’ debut and shows new side of his game

Add as preferred source on Google

Donny van de Beek is already making an impression at Eintracht Frankfurt with the Manchester United loanee showing another side of his game on his first appearance since his Premier League exit.

As Frankfurt stunned RB Leipzig on their own soil, Donny van de Beek not only showcased a range of facial expressions that would make Jim Carrey look one-note, he also seized the opportunity to prove there is a lot more to his game than those who watched him struggle at Manchester United may have realised.

Van de Beek earned himself that £34 million move to Old Trafford after shining at an Ajax side who tended to asphyxiate the opposition, his smart movement and one-touch passing hugely effective against deep-lying defences.

But, as Leipzig dominated two-thirds off the possession at home to Frankfurt, Van de Beek showed that there is a more destructive side of his game too.

Donny Van de Beek stands out on Bundesliga debut

“Donny loves it when we have the ball ourselves because he is a very good footballer. A very smart player. Today, he had to defend too much,” Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller tells Hessenschau, Van de Beek making four fouls in his 63 minutes on the pitch as The Eagles dug their claws into Leipzig (WhoScored).

“There (Van de Beek and Wolves loanee Sasa Kalajdzic) are two top players who didn’t have this rhythm, but who threw everything into it. They fit seamlessly into a functioning team.

“I think both of them will help us a lot in the next few weeks, especially in the games where we have the ball more.”

Will he ever play for Manchester United again?

Van de Beek has a £9.5 million option-to-buy clause in his Frankfurt contract. With neither he nor Jadon Sancho likely to have a future at Old Trafford, a bright start to life back in Germany at least puts United one step closer to recouping a fraction of that combined £107 million investment.

“(Frankfurt is) a good choice. A very good choice,” Simon Cziommer, who played in both the Bundesliga and the Eredivisie, tells Viaplay.

“(Frankfurt) play with a lot of pressure on the opponent. They can run the ball well, and I think he is a good addition to the squad, especially to create depth. (They need to utilise) his strength and get into the box.

“The players around him are made to play the passes into his feet, or into the space.”