Manchester United United have suffered a huge loss after Donny Van de Beek his departure from the club with an emotional farewell message to fans.
The Dutchman is reportedly moving to Girona, which will bring an end to his disastrous four-year spell at Old Trafford. United paid Ajax £35 million for Van de Beek in the summer of 2020, but the midfielder immediately struggled for form and game time as he started just four times in the Premier League in his debut season, despite making 36 appearances in all competitions.
It was thought that a reunion with former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag will spell a new lease of life for him and unlock his immense potential. But even that failed to improve his situation, and he was sent on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt last season.
But after another failed loan, following a failed loan spell at Everton in the 2021/22 season, Van de Beek has finally sealed a move away from United, with La Liga high-flyers Girona set to sign him.
However, Man United are set to gain almost nothing financially from his move, at least initially. This is according to Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Girona will pay just €500,000 (£420,000) upfront to sign Van de Beek, although their agreement with United revolves around a series of performance-related add-ons.
But the journalist also noted that there are “easy add-ons” to bring the deal closer to £4.2m, while United could even end up earning £16.9m if Van de Beek triggers all the bonuses according to BBC Sport.
WHAT VAN DE BEEK SAID
After months of speculation on his future, Van de Beek confirmed his move away from Old Trafford with an emotional farewell message on Instagram, addressing the United community.
“Dear Manchester United family, today marks the end of my journey with the club,” he wrote.
“Dear Manchester United family. Today is a memorable day as my adventure at the club comes to an end,” Van de Beek wrote on social media. “I want to thank you all for your support throughout the years.
“From the moment we arrived at Manchester United, we felt extremely welcome, and we are grateful for that. Thank you to everyone at the club for making us feel at home. A special thanks to all the fans that made these years unforgettable.
“Besides the football, the birth of our two children here ensures that Manchester will always have a special place in our hearts. Good luck to everybody; we’ll meet again.”
WHAT TOP SIX FOOTBALL THINKS
Although Donny van de Beek’s transfer to Girona may not profit Manchester United financially immediately, the move bodes well for the player who can rekindle his career in Spain and stay away from the spotlight.
His small price tag also means that he gets little or no stick from fans, who are quick to criticise big-money buys. At 27, he is supposed to be in the prime of his career, so if everything goes to plan, Girona will be getting a potentially world-class player.
