Alex Telles has shown what’s missing from Donny van de Beek debate at Manchester United – Dominic Booth

Even on the day after a sport during which he didn’t characteristic due to harm, Donny van de Beek’s title appeared in a couple of headlines.

The narrative should have been about Manchester United’s 4-0 hammering of Actual Sociedad, an especially credible end result which boosts confidence across the membership after a current dip in kind.

The dialog ought to have been about Bruno Fernandes’ all-action two-goal efficiency, or Daniel James’ resurgence, or Eric Bailly making a distinction to the United defence. Or Marcus Rashford’s astonishing return of targets and assists this season. And even Fred’s sublime pass for the United ahead.

Okay, it was largely about these issues, however there was nonetheless time for some debate about Van de Beek, who didn’t even journey to Turin for the sport resulting from a muscle harm.

However whereas in current months the feedback from Dutch legends (Louis van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and each De Boer brothers) within the media have been crucial of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and United’s dealing with of Van de Beek — amid issues he is not enjoying sufficient forward of the Euros in the summertime — there was some precise nuance this time.

It got here within the unlikely form of former Liverpool ahead, and one-time scourge of United, Durk Kuyt.

The previous Netherlands worldwide did what many pundits haven’t performed when addressing the Van de Beek subject; he in contrast the state of affairs to a different participant at a unique Premier League membership. Hurrah. On this case he cited Hakim Ziyech’s sluggish begin at Chelsea, after shifting from Ajax in the summertime, as akin to Van de Beek’s quandary.

Ziyech has managed only one Premier League aim for Chelsea from 11 appearances, with Van de Beek scoring one from 13 for United, although the latter has began fewer instances than his former teammate.

It’s completely acceptable to check the 2, as Kuyt did.

“The step from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is an enormous step,” he mentioned on Sky Sports activities. “We see the identical with Ziyech, so we have to give the gamers somewhat little bit of time.

“However I feel Donny has been very unlucky as a result of there aren’t any higher gamers than [Bruno] Fernandes in the meanwhile — on the planet. And he is enjoying in his place, so it makes it very robust for him.

“I feel Donny van de Beek has proven within the Champions League final yr what a great participant he’s, so I feel his time will come. It was disappointing that he was injured now as a result of Pogba is injured and there’s some area within the midfield, and I hoped he’d get an opportunity. However he’ll need to hold being affected person.”

The humorous factor in regards to the two gamers is that Ziyech, and the dealing with of the winger by Chelsea, has attracted subsequent to no criticism. He, like Van de Beek, was extremely rated at Ajax and arrived on these shores for the same switch payment (£33million, to Van de Beek’s £35million). He’s truly 4 years Van de Beek’s senior so arguably needs to be taking much less time to adapt.

However there’s one other participant offering an ideal instance of the hypocrisy that exists inside the Van de Beek debate. And for United followers, he’s so much nearer to dwelling.

Manchester United’s European marketing campaign acquired again underneath manner with a bang, as they thrashed Actual Sociedad 4-0 within the first leg of the Europa League final 32.

United have one foot within the final 16 of the competitors forward of the second leg, whereas they now change their focus to Newcastle at dwelling within the Premier League on Sunday.

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Alex Telles has featured in fewer league video games than Van de Beek since arriving in the summertime (seven). He has been made to play second fiddle to the in-form Luke Shaw, simply as Van de Beek has been Fernandes’ understudy.

And okay, Telles’ switch payment was lower than half Van de Beek’s, and maybe he didn’t boast such a vaunted popularity throughout Europe when he was signed by United, nevertheless it nonetheless feels odd.

Telles is a effective participant, a Brazil worldwide signed from Portugal’s greatest membership, who fairly merely can not get within the United crew proper now. And that’s accepted by the overwhelming majority, in a manner that Van de Beek’s omission just isn’t.

There are numerous different examples across the Premier League of gamers taking time to mattress in. However neither Van de Beek, nor Telles, ought to actually match into that class. Solskjaer has mentioned repeatedly he’s pleased with their contributions, however they’re presently behind United’s two greatest gamers this season, in Fernandes and Shaw.

The actual fact a former Liverpool participant introduced nuance and logic to the Van de Beek debate exhibits how overblown it has turn out to be.

Telles, Ziyech and others have confirmed that.