Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek were the young and talented faces that inspired Ajax to an unlikely and remarkable Champions League run in the 2018/19 season, with Ajax making it to the semi-finals.
The Dutch side were only denied the chance of playing in the final by Lucas Moura's late dramatic goal at the Amsterdam Arena. Tottenham executed the unthinkable that night, defying the odds to progress. Ajax were just minutes away from making the 2019 Champions League final and they probably deserved to do so. They captured the continent's imaginations once again that season.
It was inevitable that team would be dismantled soon after that defeat. Ajax's best-kept secrets were now on the international stage and the aforementioned players eventually joined Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
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Ajax might have the swagger but they don't have the financial muscle — that's perhaps why they're so endearing. United signed Van de Beek for £35m in the summer of 2020 and it was seen as quite the coup. He had played an instrumental role in Ajax's success in the Champions League and he was flourishing domestically. He was among the world's most exciting midfielders.
Erik ten Hag was the manager responsible for Van de Beek's rise to prominence. Ten Hag had assembled a young, hungry and exciting Ajax side, who played brilliant football against some of Europe's best teams. Ajax have always been fearless under Ten Hag.
Ten Hag rued the departure of Van Beek that summer and Ajax fans were disappointed to see the player leave. Edwin van der Sar even wrote an open letter to United supporters in the Manchester Evening News following the completion of the transfer.
“Please take good care of our Donny, and help him dream. Enjoy the future," the letter read. It has been almost two years since that letter was published and United have failed to give their former goalkeeper what he wanted. The only dreaming Van de Beek has done at Old Trafford is dreaming of an exit from the club. His stint turned into a nightmare. Van de Beek is an outcast at United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer signed Van de Beek and yet he seemingly had no intention to play him. Solskjaer's consistent refusal to play Van de Beek perplexed supporters and it was hard not to sympathise with the player. His career was suddenly regressing.
Solskjaer's overdue sacking promised an opportunity for Van de Beek but Michael Carrick didn't take to him. Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager in November and Van de Beek continued to be sporadically involved. Three managers had decided Van de Beek was a peripheral figure in the squad and calls for him to play soon dissipated. It was thought it wasn't a coincidence.
Van de Beek was sent on loan to Everton in January. The Dutchman had concrete interest from Newcastle, but he didn't want to be involved in a relegation battle. Van de Beek hasn't got his wish, though, as Everton became embroiled in an ugly dog fight, while Newcastle fought their way out of it.
Van de Beek has played more than 400 minutes for Everton and yet he hasn't been able to make an impression yet. He will return to United in the summer regardless and it's expected he'll finally get the opportunity he's been desperate for at Old Trafford. That's because Van de Beek is now set for a reunion with Ten Hag, who is close to joining United as manager.
Ten Hag got the best from Van de Beek at Ajax. The midfielder excelled in the No.10 role under the 52-year-old and he'll welcome this piece of managerial news more than most in the United squad. Many expect Ten Hag to install Van de Beek as a regular first team starter.
The pair enjoyed great success together at Ajax, however, there's no guarantee that will translate to England. There has been a thought that Van de Beek isn't suited to the demands of the Premier League, so what if Ten Hag surprises fans and snubs Van de Beek too?
It seems unlikely given their previous working relationship but that was two years ago. Ten Hag's opinion on Van de Beek might have changed with new evidence and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could look to sell the player.
Ten Hag could potentially share the opinion of Solskjaer, Carrick and Rangnick on Van de Beek. Football has a tendency to surprise when you least expect it.
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