The mystery of Donny van de Beek, Manchester United’s player non grata

Donny van de Beek arrives for Manchester United’s game at home to Wolves this month, in which he failed to get off the bench. Photograph: Tom Purslow/Manchester United/Getty Images

Donny van de Beek’s club career statistics: Ajax (2015-20), 41 goals, 34 assists, 175 appearances – 90 in central midfield, 68 attacking midfield, 14 defensive midfield, one wide left and two in the final moments. Manchester United (2020-present), two goals, two assists, 50 appearances, 18 in central midfield, 14 attacking midfield, three defensive midfield, three wide left and 12 too short to matter.

This cliff-face fall-off in numbers between Van de Beek’s first and current clubs points to the mysterious case of a Dutch‑schooled Netherlands first choice with Champions League quarter- and semi-final goals on his CV who joined United and instantly became player non grata.