AC Milan legend and former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit has admitted he fears Donny van de Beek risks following in the footsteps of former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen after joining Manchester United earlier this season.
The Blues signed Klaassen from Ajax in a £23.6m deal in July 2017, but he was sold at a loss to Werder Bremen after just one underwhelming campaign having been limited to just three Premier League starts.
Van de Beek made the move from Ajax to the English top-flight himself last month as he joined Manchester United in a £35m transfer, and could make his debut on Saturday against Crystal Palace.
And reflecting on Klaassen's failed spell in England, believing Everton was never the right club for the midfielder, Gullit has warned what United's latest signing needs to do to avoid suffering the same fate.
“What immediately occurred to me is that he must be careful not to become a second Davy Klaassen,“ Gullit wrote in his column for Dutch daily De Telegraaf, cited by Inside Futbol. “Van de Beek is a younger copy of Davy in terms of playing style.
“Klaassen chose Everton, but the playing style of those two is best suited to an offensive team.
“And therefore it should be easier for Donny at United than it was for Klaassen at Everton.”
