Gary Neville says Manchester United signed £ 40m midfielder Donny van de Beek because they expected Paul Pogba to leave and admits: ‘I still can’t get my head around him’
- Gary Neville says Donny Van de Beek came in because Paul Pogba was leaving
- Van de Beek joined Manchester United for £ 40million but has barely appeared
- Neville said he still believes United are ‘preparing’ to leave in the summer
Gary Neville has admitted he is baffled by Manchester United’s decision to pay £ 40million for midfielder Donny Van de Beek, suggesting he was bought because Paul Pogba was expected to leave.
Pogba has recovered in the last few games, with some celebrating his improved form coming after the incredible intervention from his substitute Mina Raiola in December, who said his course- United life ‘past’.
But Neville said Pogba ‘s future at Old Trafford is still in the balance, and pointed out that Van de Beek – who has largely appeared at Old Trafford – came as an indication of possible changes.
Gary Neville believes Donny Van de Beek was signed because Paul Pogba was ready to leave
Van de Beek (top right) has only made two Premier League starts so far this season.
‘It’s interesting, something has happened – the interesting guy (Donny) Van de Beek is signing interesting – I still can’t turn my head around it,’ Neville told Sky Sports on Sunday ahead of the Liverpool v Manchester game United.
It ‘s almost as if that signing was done with the expectation that one of the others would leave because Van de Beek has just sat on the bench for the past few months and cost £ 40million.
‘I think Manchester United are preparing for someone to leave. Maybe Pogba could leave, so they already have Van de Beek to take on that role. ‘
Van De Beek has hardly been seen since he was heavily signed from Ajax in the summer.
Neville said Pogba deserved to be in the United team now based on the current form
He has only started two Premier League games and has scraped just once in the opening game of the season in September. The 23-year-old has not appeared at all in the league since United beat Leeds 6-2 on 20 December.
Neville admitted, however, that Pogba was on the team on merit because of the current format.
‘I think now, with Paul Pogba playing and the way Manchester United’ s season is going, no one is going to come in in January and buy Paul Pogba ; I don’t think Manchester United would let him go. ‘
United Ole manager Gunnar Solskjaer (right) has told Van de Beek he has a future at the club
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has defended Van de Beek’s critics and his lack of playing time, and has assured him that he has a future in Manchester.
‘There are so many examples of players who need some time, quality players, we have a lot of examples of our own and there are other clubs with examples and sometimes it takes time,’ said Solskjaer about the Dutchman.
‘You don’t expect people who care for him to be quiet at times, especially when they want the best for them. I spoke to him and made him aware of how we value him. ‘
