Donny van de Beek is accused of thinking he’s bigger than Ajax by Dutch legend Marco van Basten

Donny van de Beek is accused of thinking he’s bigger than Ajax, as Dutch legend Marco van Basten claims the £40m flop’s ‘big boy’ attitude in Holland has led to Manchester United struggles

  • Van Basten has accused Donny Van de Beek of thinking he was a ‘big boy’ at Ajax
  • The ex-Dutch star said Van de Beek assumed he would make it in another country
  • However, he quickly found out it would be a different story in the Premier League
  • Van de Beek signed a five-year contract with Man United for a fee of £40million  

Former Dutch international Marco van Basten has accused Donny van de Beek of thinking he was bigger than Ajax when he moved to Old Trafford.   

The Manchester United flop signed a five-year contract with the Red Devils in September for a fee of £40million, but has failed to live up to expectation.

As a result, Van Basten has criticised Van de Beek’s ‘big boy’ attitude at Ajax and believes the midfielder’s assumption that he would ‘make it in another country’ has led to his struggles in the Premier League.    

Marco Van Basten has accused Donny Van de Beek of thinking he was a ‘big boy’ at Ajax

The former Dutch star (above) said Van de Beek assumed he would make it in another country

The former Dutch star (above) said Van de Beek assumed he would make it in another country

With the 24-year-old having only made two Premier League starts this season, Van Basten shared his opinion on Van de Beek’s decision to leave the Dutch top-flight. 

Van Basten, who won the Ballon d’Or three times with AC Milan after plying his trade at Ajax, told ZiggoSport: ‘It just shows what a great life they have when they play at Ajax.

‘They all think very quickly that they are a big boy here and can make it in other countries, but in the Netherlands, there is a nice competition.

However, Van de Beek quickly found out it would be a different story in the Premier League

However, Van de Beek quickly found out it would be a different story in the Premier League

The 24-year-old midfielder (left) has only made two Premier League starts this season

The 24-year-old midfielder (left) has only made two Premier League starts this season

‘In a team like Ajax you are really helped, especially in the number 10 position. Then you often see that they go abroad and it is a different story.’ 

Van Basten does, however, believe Van de Beek can turn his career at Manchester United around – but insists he must ‘take care of himself’. 

He said: ‘You have to be able to take care of yourself.

‘If you go to a club in another country, you have to be able to present yourself in that team in a way that the others will think: ‘he is one of us and with him we are going to win’.’