Manchester United are putting Donny van de Beek on a specialist training programme to bulk him up.
The Dutchman arrived from Ajax for £40m this summer, with fans expecting the midfielder to slot straight into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI.
But it has not been the case, with the 23-year-old sitting on the bench for the Red Devils’ first three games while playing their Carabao Cup campaign.
It has seen the club come under fire for the decision as they have conceded 11 goals in three league games to sit 16th.
But The Sun have reported that van de Beek is being put on a programme to get him up to speed.
The Dutchman will be working through a strength programme to add some muscle over the next few months, increasing his physicality.
While United have been impressed with his fitness levels, they have sent the 23-year-old to the weights room for some bulking.
This programme, which was also followed by Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo, will see him perform resistance work with exercises such as pull-ups and chest presses.
But it should not be a challenge for van de Beek, who has been praised for his “fantastic attitude” and “likened to David Beckham” according to the report.
The Dutchman made 175 appearances for Ajax over five senior seasons at the club, helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals two years ago.
And the 23-year-old scored his first international goal this week, scoring the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Italy in their Nations League match.
But his recent treatment at at United left agent Sjaak Swart furious this month, telling Voetbal Primeur : “A substitute, I don’t like it at all.
“I couldn’t do it myself, substituting in with four minutes left to play. Then you’d better let me sit down.”
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