Michael Carrick has admitted Donny van de Beek wasn't given enough first-team opportunities at Manchester United before heading out on loan.
The Dutchman was continually left frustrated by his lack of chances at Old Trafford having joined the club from Ajax in 2020. Despite impressing in Erik ten Hag’s side in Amsterdam, Van de Beek was rarely given any game time by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Even after Ralf Rangnick’s arrival as interim boss in November, the Netherlands international continued to be left on the sidelines, despite United's struggles in midfield. Van de Beek subsequently made the move to Everton on loan in the January transfer window as he looked for regular playing time.
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Since making the move to Goodison Park, the 24-year-old has featured much more regularly and has come in for praise from manager Frank Lampard. The Dutchman also sent a timely reminder of his qualities to his parent club with a great performance against Manchester City.
Having been part of Solskjaer’s coaching staff, Carrick had a role to play in the decision-making process that saw Van de Beek’s chances limited at Old Trafford. Despite that, the former United midfielder insisted he was happy to see him being given an opportunity on Merseyside.
“I am delighted for Donny,” Carrick told Premier League Productions. “He is a terrific lad. Great attitude.
“Football is funny, at times. Sometimes things don’t work how you want them to work for a variety of reasons when you make a move to a certain club.
“I am delighted he is playing. He needed games. He obviously didn’t have enough, he will be saying, over the last year or so.
“He’s so versatile as well. He has got different strengths. He has played in a three tonight [against Tottenham], but I think he is really dangerous in and around the box. But he is really clever in and around the box.”
Despite getting more opportunities at Everton, things didn’t go according to plan in Van de Beek’s latest outing for the club as the Toffees were thrashed 5-0 by Spurs on Monday. The Dutchman was hauled off before the hour mark in north London, by which point the damage had already been done.
He now finds himself firmly in a relegation battle at Goodison, with Everton hovering precariously over the drop zone. They sit just one point above the bottom three, although they do have at least one game in hand over the teams in the chasing pack.
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