Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek was pictured at Carrington with the first team squad yesterday before being left behind.

When the summer began, Donny van de Beek did not expect to be at Manchester United by now. But after a disastrous transfer window when he did not land the loan move he wanted, he is stuck at the club like a spare part.

This was miserably illustrated yesterday when Van de Beek trained at Carrington with the first team for the Champions League game at Copenhagen. He was there purely to make up the numbers. There was no hint of a smile either, in the pictures released of the normally cheerful midfielder.

When the travelling squad for the fixture was announced, Van de Beek was not on it. Understandably, as Manchester United did not even register the Dutchman for the Champions League group stages.

Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images

Donny van de Beek expected to leave

Earlier this week, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told The United Stand: “Yes, Donny will leave in January for sure. He has to and he wants to because he wants to play. It’s a shame because Donny wanted to play for Man United, he loved this opportunity, but at the same time, he is never playing.

“He also knows after the injury he needs regular football. he can’t stay on the bench, not even on the bench, for a long time.”

He has played only 21 minutes of action this season. Although, after being left out of the Champions League squad, it had looked unlikely he would even get that much.

The last time Van de Beek made the bench was against Sheffield United in mid-October.

His presence in training shows there are no fitness issues, it is purely a matter of selection from manager Erik ten Hag, who previously managed Van de Beek at Ajax.

Time to go Donny

It is hard to believe that Manchester United and Donny van de Beek could not get together to come to an agreement on a loan deal for him in the summer. A few deals were floated and there was reported interest from across Europe – but nothing materialised.

Fabrizio Romano reported previously that the finer details ended up with a move to Spain fell through.

“It collapsed because of Manchester United. Donny agreed on everything with Real Sociedad, he wanted to go there. It was the best possibility to change country, city, different type of motivation, Champions League football with Real Sociedad, very good opportunity.

“Manchester United did not agree with Real Sociedad on terms of the deal. It was about loan fee, salary.”