Rio Ferdinand suggested that Donny van de Beek is “too nice” and his personality might be holding him back from more opportunities at Manchester United.
Van de Beek’s career has stagnated at Old Trafford and the struggling midfielder is failing to secure regular playing time under United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 24-year-old Dutch midfielder’s time at United has impacted his international career, with Louis van Gaal leaving him out of the Netherlands squad.
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A visibly frustrated Van de Beek was snubbed by Solskjaer in United’s 2-1 comeback win over Villarreal in the Champions League.
The former Ajax star was spotted throwing his bib to the floor before furiously spitting his chewing gum out while he was sat in the Old Trafford dugout.
Van de Beek, who has only played six minutes in the Premier League this season, has been heavily linked with a move to Everton.
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Ferdinand admitted that the Netherlands international is “really calm” and “relaxed,” which might not help with his situation at United.
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The United legend claimed Van de Beek would no longer be at Old Trafford if he were “volatile” and “loud.”
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE, he said: “I think the big thing with Donny van de Beek -- and he’s a great guy, we’ve had him on the show before -- he’s a really calm, relaxed guy.
“I think this is a funny situation because if he was a bad guy and he was volatile and he was loud, he’d be gone. He wouldn’t be at Man United.
“And sometimes when you’re too nice maybe, or you’re nice about a situation and you’re polite, you might not get the situation that you really require for yourself. And I think that’s probably the problem for someone like Donny van de Beek.”
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Ferdinand also revealed that he has spoken to Van de Beek about his current predicament at United and encouraged him to keep on ‘working hard.’
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“It’s crazy because I saw him the other day, I spoke to him,” he said.
“I said to him, ‘Regardless of what happens, man, just work hard’ and I think he said that on the show.
“And I said to him, ‘These experiences are what build people, they build you as a human being but they build you as a player: the character, the personality. And I think in time you’ll look back and think that made me stronger.’
“He will never see it now, but he’ll look back and go, ‘You know what, that helped make me get stronger’ and he can use this to fuel him and push him on in the next phase of his career when it comes.”
Featured Image Credit: Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE/PATopics: Rio Ferdinand, Donny van de Beek, Manchester United, England, Premier League, Football