van Gaal wants more play time for van de Beek
Holland manager Louis van Gaal told Donny van de Beek he needs to start playing regular club football before he can think about a return to the international fold during a 45-minute phone call with Manchester United’s forgotten man.
Van Gaal, back at the helm of the Dutch national team, left Van de Beek out of his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Norway, Montenegro and Turkey.
Van Gaal, a former United manager, refused to open up on too many of the finer details of his talk with Van de Beek but was clear that he wants to see the 24-year-old getting more minutes under his belt.
‘I called Donny van de Beek yesterday,’ Van Gaal said at his press conference. ‘I told him that he needs to start playing games.
‘I did not speak with any manager of my players. Maybe it’s logical to talk with them, but I haven’t done it.
‘I spoke (with Van de Beek) last night for 45 minutes, but I am not going to tell you anything. This is between Donny and me. I am capable of advising players.’
Van de Beek missed Holland’s Euro 2020 campaign through injury, compounding a miserable season after his £35m move to United from Ajax.
The 24-year-old was used as a substitute for the vast majority of his first season at United, making 36 appearances but he hasn’t made played once under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer so far in the 2021-22 campaign.
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Van de Beek has 19 caps for Holland and three goals. The Dutch team are second in Group G of World Cup qualifying with six points from three matches, a point behind early leaders Turkey.
United, meanwhile, are away to Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday in the final match before the international break.