In his own words, Donny van de Beek feels like a footballer again. “I’ve played more minutes this season than the previous four combined,” he tells SPORTbible from his home in northeast Catalonia. “It feels like I’m finally on the right path.”
An upbeat Van de Beek has every reason to smile.
In total, the former Manchester United and Ajax midfielder made 35 appearances in all competitions for Spanish side Girona across the 2024/25 campaign – a significant step in his quest to rediscover a run of form that once made him one of Europe’s most wanted players.
In fact, such was his desire to prove himself at the Estadi Montilivi, Van de Beek pushed through the pain barrier to try and help Miguel Sanchez’s side retain their La Liga status.
“I’ve had this Achilles issue for a while and kept playing through it, but it got too much in the end,” he says. “Sprinting became difficult and I couldn’t play at 100 per cent. So I had to deal with it properly.”
The 28-year-old, who will miss Girona’s final game of the season against Atletico Madrid on Sunday after undergoing surgery on his left Achilles tendon last week, has suffered setback after setback over the past four years.
A quick search on Transfermarkt details a catalogue of injuries. From thighs, groins and hamstrings to a “disastrous” knee injury that kept him out for 179 days. It had become the norm for Van de Beek to miss out; whether that be at Old Trafford, Goodison Park or the Waldstadion; home of Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
That challenging situation understandably took a toll mentally.
“It’s difficult to build rhythm and confidence when you’re constantly being sidelined,” he admits. “It’s hard to be at your best when you’re in and out of the team, and I think when you’re not playing regularly, your body isn’t used to the intensity; you become more prone to injuries. The lack of consistent minutes didn’t help either.”
As he points out with brutal honesty, an unfortunate run of injuries was just one of the factors behind disappointing spells in Manchester and beyond.
If everything had worked out how many had predicted when he signed a five-year deal at United in 2020, the £35 million-rated Dutchman would have likely been on his way to Bilbao this week to participate in a Europa League final.
Instead, he will cheer on Ruben Amorim‘s side from afar – four years after being part of the United squad that fell to an infamous penalty shoot-out defeat against Villarreal.
“I’ll be watching on Wednesday night,” he nods. “I still love to see United play, and I stay in contact with a lot of people from the club—players and staff. I really hope they can win it; they deserve it. The fans have been through a lot recently.”
To this day, talk of what could have been remains. Why did Van de Beek struggle for consistent minutes under three different managers in Manchester, despite being fully fit and available?
Almost a year after leaving Old Trafford for good and he is open and honest about his time at United, as well as his relationship with the supporters who were so important when times were tough.
Van de Beek has played a key role for Michel’s Girona this season. Image credit: Getty
It is a moment that will stay with Donny van de Beek for the rest of his life.
“I was with Ajax at a training camp in Austria,” he recalls. “After a training session, I was recovering in the hotel spa when my agent phoned. He told me United had called and that talks were underway. I said, ‘Just do it’.”
At the time, Van de Beek was already planning on leaving the Eredivisie side after 41 goals in 175 first-team appearances. Real Madrid had previously expressed a strong interest alongside Barcelona and Juventus.
Having helped Ajax reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19 with a handful of game-changing performances, the midfielder was scouted extensively by those behind the scenes at Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who pushed for the move to happen, was delighted. After becoming his first signing of the summer in 2020, the Norwegian noted that the midfielder had all the technical attributes needed to perform in his team, as well as the personality required to succeed.
“His ability to see space, time his movements and read the game will really complement the qualities that we have in midfield and his arrival really strengthens the depth of talent we have in that position,” Solskjaer added.
Looking back, Van de Beek remembers those opening weeks with fond memories. “It was honestly incredible to be there,” he says. “I remember my first training sessions—I had so much energy in my body. Being at such a big club was fantastic. I even scored in my first Premier League game, which was a great feeling.”
He may have become the 20th United player to score on his Premier League debut but the Netherlands international struggled to pin down a regular spot in Solskjaer’s plans.
In fact, he started just four league games in a debut season that frustrated many, including the man who was desperate to push on and take his career to the next level.
“I think I deserved more chances, especially in my first year,” Van de Beek tells us.
“I didn’t play all the time, but when I did, I had some good games. I was convinced I would get more opportunities. I felt good, and thought, ‘Okay, my time will come’ but for some reason, it didn’t happen.
“It was tough because sometimes you want more chances, but it’s not always in your hands. That’s how football is — some coaches give you more opportunities, others don’t.
“Looking back, I can say I gave everything in those years. I really tried to break into the team. I was convinced I could do it. I was confident I had the quality and ability to show something, but it just didn’t work out.”
Following a brief pause, he continues: “After a year or two, it gets harder because if you don’t get a longer run of games then it’s difficult to prove yourself. When you first arrive, you might get more chances, but that never happened for me. I always hoped to have a run of games, but I never really got that.”
Solskjaer pushed to sign Van de Beek in the summer of 2020, but used him sparingly. Image credit: Getty
A promising run in the team eventually came under Erik ten Hag in November 2022, when Van de Beek started three consecutive games for the first time in his United career.
Things, however, took another unfortunate turn at the beginning of January 2023, when he was forced off after being clattered by Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi on just his second Premier League start of the season. It was a devastating moment that he still rues to this day.
“The only run of games I got was before my knee injury — maybe three or four games,” Van de Beek says. “Then there was a bad tackle against Bournemouth at home, which ruled me out for the rest of the season.
“After that, new players came in the summer, so it was tough to get back in. That was a key moment for me — if I’d stayed fit, maybe things would have been different, who knows. It’s all ‘ifs’ — we’ll never know.”
Given their history together at Ajax, many predicted Ten Hag’s appointment at United ahead of the 2022/23 campaign would be a turning point for Van de Beek. Did he expect to be given more chances by his fellow Dutchman, especially after such an impressive pre-season?
“I was playing a few games under Ten Hag, but then I got injured — that was the hardest moment. It was a disaster. And as I said earlier, when I came back, new players had arrived, so it was tough again.
“Every club is different; just because you worked with a coach before doesn’t mean you will play every game. Of course, you know each other from before, but it was different.”
For all the negatives, a standout positive from Van de Beek’s time in Manchester was the continued support he received from supporters.
In fact, the topic of United’s loyal fan base cropped up on multiple occasions throughout our chat, and it’s no surprise. As someone who has attended numerous games at Old Trafford over the years, the support from the stands for Van de Beek was always noticeable, even when he wasn’t playing.
“I never had any bad experiences with the fans,” he smiles. “We had a great relationship. They were always so good to me. That gave me a lot of energy, especially during difficult moments. The fans and staff deserve so much better than what’s happening now. It’s tough to see.”
One particular moment stands out for Van de Beek as he recalls his time at United.
Back in 2022, as he conducted a post-match interview during the club’s pre-season tour of Melbourne, a reporter from MUTV mentioned that fans had a “lot of love and support” for him; a comment that brought a tear to his eye.
That support meant so much, especially at such an uncertain time.
“My confidence wasn’t high because I was coming back from an injury,” he recalls. “That’s why I was emotional. Hearing the fans’ love was a huge boost. Those first weeks back in pre-season went well, so it was a nice moment. I remember it clearly.”
Ten Hag would later claim that injuries had caught up with Van de Beek. He was no longer the player who made an impact under his tutelage in Amsterdam. “From the first moment I came in here at Manchester United, he wasn’t the player he was at Ajax because he was injured,” he said in January 2024.
Six months later and with another loan move under his belt, this time with German side Eintracht Frankfurt – a spell that featured just eight appearances – the time had come to leave United on a permanent basis.
Unfortunately, he never got the chance to say a proper goodbye.
“I was out on loan, and after the season had finished, I went on holiday. Before the new season started, Girona and United were already in talks, so I never went back to Carrington,” he says. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. I went from Holland straight to Spain to finalise the deal.
“When I went on loan to Germany the season before, that already felt a bit like a goodbye. It’s always tough to leave a place, especially when you’re settled with your family. We lived in Manchester and really enjoyed it. United is a fantastic club.
“For me, it was a time with ups and downs, but I still watch their games and follow them closely. Leaving a place where you feel at home is hard, but it was time to move on.”
Van de Beek would sign a four-year contract with La Liga outfit Girona last summer. An initial fee of £420,600 was agreed between both clubs, although with additional payments, the fee could reach up to £7.66 million alongside a hefty sell-on clause.
After playing a key role for the Catalan side, the Dutchman is hoping to push on and prove his doubters wrong.
“The plan was always to gradually build up my minutes and fitness, and to progress step by step. Over the course of the season, I think things went in the right direction. I was improving and playing better,” he says.
“If I want to get back to my best, the only solution is playing games. Training helps, but it’s not the same as playing matches. I’m positive and I hope to keep that going.”
Van de Beek celebrates after scoring in a Champions League clash against Feyenoord in October. Image credit: Getty
As the interview comes to a close, I want to get Van de Beek’s thoughts on whether the last few years have changed him as a person, as well as a footballer. His answer speaks volumes on the progress he’s made.
“I’ve had a lot of setbacks, and because of that, I’ve grown mentally stronger,” he begins.
“Obviously, having my family—my little kids and my girlfriend— has helped me grow too. You try to learn from what’s happened in the past and focus on moving forward. I try not to dwell on what’s behind me and look ahead.
“I’ve learned to focus on the positive things in my life and just keep going. I try to enjoy the moment and stay positive mentally, avoiding too much negative thinking.
“Time flies,” he adds. “You have to enjoy it and take every opportunity. I want to get the most out of my career. I still have plenty of chances to prove myself and show what I can do. Right now, I’m feeling positive. I’ve gained a lot of experience in football and seen many things.
“I know I have the ability to do that (prove people wrong). I played a lot of games this season, which is positive, and apart from the Achilles, I’ve been injury-free for about a year and a half, which is a big positive.”
Another big smile is etched across Van de Beek’s face. “I’m ready to take the next step,” he says. “Let’s see how it goes.”
