Donny van de Beek made just four Premier League starts for Manchester United last season. The midfielder had been one of the world's most sought-after talents prior to moving to Old Trafford. That campaign was quite the comedown for the player.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been effusive in his praise for Van de Beek yet he didn't trust him to play. Solskjaer's actions contradicted his words. The discussion surrounding Van de Beek quickly grew tedious but it was the player himself that had to wrestle with his newfound lack of purpose. Van de Beek moved to Manchester in a pandemic and it was undoubtedly challenging.
There was solace for Van de Beek throughout that period: he remained appreciated in the Netherlands national team. Van de Beek wasn't regularly starting for the Netherlands, but he seemed more valued when reporting for national duty than when arriving for training at Carrington. He looked forward to the European Championship and that was his comfort throughout the winter.
