Robbie Walls
Former Manchester United star Robin Van Persie has warned Donny Van de Beek he will have to ‘mentally adjust’ ahead of his impending £40m move to Manchester United.
The Dutch international has been an impressive performer for Ajax in the last few seasons and is the latest of a stellar crop of young talent to depart the club.
The 23-year-old has already completed a medical ahead of his £40m move to Old Trafford, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having personally outlined his vision for the club to the player.
The versatile midfielder will provide quality reinforcement to a side that appeared in dire need of depth following their exit from the Europa League at the hands of Sevilla last month.
COMPARED: Donny van de Beek compared to Man Utd's midfielders in the league and Europe in 2019/20.
An all-round midfielder. pic.twitter.com/u7zpx4R9sv
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 31, 2020
With the Red Devils seeking to close the gap between themselves and last season’s runaway leaders Liverpool, the acquisition of the young Dutchman would appear a particularly astute purchase and has stirred plenty of excitement among United fans – the club fending off the likes of Spurs, Real Madrid and Barca who have also been linked with the player.
While there is plenty of anticipation regarding the player’s arrival, former Premier League winner Van Persie urged his compatriot to be ready for the pressure that comes with signing for ‘a beast of a club’ like United.
“Donny van de Beek is 23-years-old and that is a nice age to make a transfer to the Premier League,” Van Persie wrote in his column for De Telegraaf.
“I was a bit younger when I went to Arsenal, and in the locker room, I was considered a player for the future. Winning the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord meant nothing. The Premier League is a completely different world.
“Donny will be brought in as a major purchase from Manchester United, but he will discover that those other 22 players have also been brought in as a “major purchase”. One had an even bigger transfer than the other.
“It means that he has to stand there right away and he has to mentally adjust to that. Because Manchester United is in every way a beast of a club.”
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