Former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has hit out at Manchester United's treatment of Donny van de Beek ahead of his loan move to Everton, insisting his temporary exit from Old Trafford will bolster his 2022 World Cup prospects.
The midfielder is poised to join the Toffees, who are set to install Frank Lampard as their new manager, on loan for the remainder of the season in a bid to secure some much-needed first-team football.
Van de Beek joined United in September 2020 from Dutch giants Ajax and has racked up just 50 appearances, meaning he has been left upset by the situation and desperate to source a move ahead of the window closing.
Despite Crystal Palace registering a firm interest, the Dutchman is set to completed a deadline day move to Everton, becoming the first signing of the Lampard era.
Reflecting on his impending move to Goodison Park, fellow countryman De Jong has revealed how pleased he is for Van de Beek, hinting that he believes United's treatment of him has not been good enough.
De Jong told Sky Sports : "I think it is a great signing and I am really pleased for the kid. He deserves so much better, especially after the way Manchester United have treated him over the last year-and-a-half.
"I am very excited for that one."
Van de Beek, who arrived at Old Trafford with so much promise and potential, was expected to see his United career spark into life following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.
However, Ralf Rangnick's arrival at United has not given the midfielder the fresh lease of life he will have been wishing for. He has played in just half of the German's first ten games in charge, starting just once.
But Van de Beek will be hoping his time on Merseyside will spark his career back into life and help him force his way back into the Netherlands squad in time for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
"He was always a great asset for the national team," De Jong continued. "It is only because of his time at United that he has dropped down the pecking order.
" Louis van Gaal will only choose players who are playing for their clubs for the national team. In that sense, it is good for him to get the chance to play again, in a team that will respect him and where he will be able to feel the love.
"It is not just something that will be good for him, but also for the national team because this kid needs to be in the national team.
"The qualities that he has are too much for sitting on the bench somewhere.
"I have great respect for the way he has handled himself in these last couple of months, as he has stayed quiet and got on with his job. That says a lot about the character he is and has as a player.
"It is going to be a massive four, five or six months. Of course, he will also have two months after the season has finished [next season] to go to the World Cup in November. He has got a couple of months to convince Van Gaal that he has to be a choice for the national team."
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