As ‘false dawns’ go, Donny Van de Beek’s debut goal during Manchester United’s opening day defeat to Crystal Palace at the start of 2020/21 was right up there with some of the most fleeting.
Two-and-a-half years and 59 games later, the Dutchman has only scored one further goal in United colours.
Donny van de Beek made a habit of Ajax of making perfectly-timed late runs into the penalty area before finishing with precision, in a manner reminiscent perhaps of a young Paul Scholes.
“He has a great eye for a goal,” Ajax CEO and Man United hero Edwin Van der Sar told MUTV. “His technique is brilliant. I’d compare him a little bit to Scholesy.”
Van de Beek’s Old Trafford struggles are a reminder of the potential pitfalls of likening a new signing to a club legend. Especially a young player arriving from abroad, without a shred of Premier League experience under their belt.
But, at the risk of repeating old mistakes, with Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport claiming that United have sent scouts to watch Davide Frattesi, it is difficult to overlook the notion that this is a midfielder cut from Scholes’ cloth. The similarities between the Sassuolo star and an Ajax-era Van de Beek, meanwhile, are impossible to ignore.
Davide Frattesi is what Man United wanted Donny Van de Beek to be
Capped four times by Italy, Frattesi is not as prolific from central midfield as a Bruno Fernandes. But he certainly has an eye for goal. He’s scored 10 times in Serie A since the start of 2021/22. Only three central midfielders in Italy’s top flight have more than Frattesi’s six goals so far this term.
Frattesi’s party piece, meanwhile, involves running beyond the last line into the penalty area, or ghosting into dangerous positions unmarked. A la a Frank Lampard, a Steven Gerrard or, perhaps, even a young Paul Scholes.
Only three central midfielders in Italy’s top flight have more than Frattesi’s six goals so far this term.
“As far as he has shown, he can be worth £25 million,” says the one-time West Ham and Serie A enforcer Valon Behrami.
“I’d see him well at Inter Milan if (Nicolo) Barella weren’t there. But, for the Italian (clubs, it would be a big investment.”
‘He’s an extraordinary player’
Frattesi, meanwhile, appears to be a more tenacious, athletic, physical operator than the somewhat delicate Van de Beek. He is not averse to chasing down opposition midfielders, or sticking the proverbial boot in. Frattesi’s energy and aggression certainly makes him a better fit for Premier League football than a man in Van de Beek who’s best displays came for an Ajax side who were used to dominating possession and picking off defences at will.
“He’s an example (for other players). He’s an extraordinary player and boy,” Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali tells Rai Radio. “Frattesi is one of our most important players.”
“We had an offer from an English club for Frattesi. Clearly, when an opportunity, arises we consider (a sale) for their sake.”
Can the supposedly £30 million-rated Frattesi succeed where Van de Beek failed? That remains a question without an answer for now, but the early signs certainly look encouraging.
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