Donny van de Beek's time at Manchester United has fallen so spectacularly short of what just about everyone expected, but that doesn't impact the love he has for the Red Devils.
Signed in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £40million from Ajax, the Netherlands international failed to ever earn a regular run of games under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it was a similar story during Ralf Rangnick's interim reign.
Many hoped that if anyone could get the best out of Van de Beek at Old Trafford, it was his old Ajax boss Erik ten Hag. Yet, eight months into the Dutchman's debut campaign at the helm, the midfielder remains just as far away from the first-team fold.
Yet, the 26-year-old clearly still harbours plenty of affection for United, just see his latest Instagram post. Van de Beek turned 26 on Tuesday this week and as part of his celebrations, the midfielder posed proudly with a United-themed cake that even had his shirt number added on in icing.
In a similar vein, Van de Beek also boasts a United pool table in his home. He seems to live and breathe the club, showing immense pride in his status as a Red Devil even with very limited game time.
It is a testament to how strongly he feels about United. Van de Beek has ignored the advice and comments of a number of Dutch football icons or outlets urging him to up sticks and find a new club.
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Publication De Telegraaf told Van de Beek to consider 'packing his bags straightaway' if he wasn't named in the starting line-up for a Manchester derby two years ago.
Rafael van der Vaart was equally as brutal in his assessment, as he blasted: "Wait? Patience? Would you like it if you are stuck on the bench? The players in front of you can't even kick a marble and [Solskjaer] still does not put you in the team.
"I would not be happy. I would certainly not be enjoying my football there. Look at the player Donny is and how he performs at international level. I would not have it."
Many fans and pundits alike have urged Van de Beek to try and revive a flatlining career with a move, whether that be to another English side or even a return to Holland.
The more cynical stance is that Van de Beek is all too happy to collect his handsome wage while sitting on the bench, but his affection for United is undeniable.
It is the same reason why Van de Beek is likely to fancy his chances of finally kickstarting his United career next season once he has shaken off the injuries that have marred this campaign.
