When Ajax made it to the semis of the Champions League in the 2018/19 season, it was down to the talents of Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek.

Lucas Moura's late dramatic goal at the Amsterdam Arena denied the Netherlands the chance to play in the final. In the face of overwhelming odds, Tottenham pulled off an incredible feat on that night. If Ajax had been able to reach the final of the 2019 Champions League, they undoubtedly deserved to be. That season, they once again captivated the continent's attention.

After the defeat, the team was destined to be destroyed. The best-kept secrets of Ajax were now on display for the world to see, and the players described above went on to play for Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United, respectively.

So why is Ajax so endearing? Because of their bravado but lack of financial muscle? It was considered a major coup when United signed Van de Beek for £35 million in the summer of 2020. He had played a crucial role in Ajax's win in the Champions League, and he was enjoying success in his own country. He was considered to be one of the most exciting midfielders in the world.

Erik ten Hag, Van van Beek's manager, was the driving force behind his ascent to fame. He had built a talented Ajax team that had the potential to challenge the very best in Europe's top competition. During Ten Hag's tenure at Ajax, the team has always been fearless.

Ten Hag expressed regret over Van Beek's departure that summer, and Ajax fans were also disappointed to see the star depart. Following the completion of the move, Edwin van der Sar even wrote an open letter to United supporters, which was published in the Manchester Evening News.

"Please take excellent care of our Donny and assist him in fulfilling his dreams. "Take pleasure in the future," the letter stated. Two years on after the letter, Manchester United have not given their former goalkeeper what he had requested. It appears that the only daydreaming Van de Beek has done while at Old Trafford is that of a departure from the club. After a few weeks, his assignment turned into a nightmare. Van van Beek is a social outcast at Manchester United.

In spite of the fact that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had signed Van de Beek, it appeared that he had no plans to use him. Fans were baffled by Solskjaer's reticence to play Van de Beek on a consistent basis, and it was difficult not to sympathize with the player. His professional life had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Van van Beek was given a chance after Solskjaer was sacked, but Michael Carrick did not take to him at the start of the season. In November, Ralf Rangnick was named interim manager and Van de Beek was involved in a limited capacity. Three managers had come to the conclusion that Van van Beek was a non-factor in the team, and pleas for him to play were quickly quashed. It was speculated that this was not a coincidental event.

Van de Beek joined Everton on a season-long loan in January. Newcastle had expressed an interest in signing the Dutchman, but he did not want to become embroiled in a relegation struggle. In the end, Van van Beek's ambition was denied as Everton and Newcastle were involved in a nasty dogfight.

For Everton, Van de Beek has logged more than 400 minutes of action without making an impact. He will return to United in the summer regardless, and it is thought that he will finally get the chance at Old Trafford that he has been chasing for so long. This is due to the fact that Van de Beek is scheduled to reunite with Ten Hag, who is on the verge of becoming the new manager of United.

At Ajax, Ten Hag was able to get the best out of Van de Beek. The midfielder performed admirably in the No.10 position under the 52-year-old, and he will be the most pleased of the rest of the United players with this bit of managerial news. Many believe that Ten Hag will make Van de Beek a regular first-team starter in the near future.

It is possible that the pair will have even greater success in England if they continue to play together at Ajax. So what if Ten Hag surprises supporters by snubbing Van de Beek as well? There has been some speculation that Van de Beek is unsuited to the demands of the Premier League.

Because of their former professional relationship, it seemed implausible, but that was more than two years ago. Ten Hag's attitude on Van de Beek may have shifted as a result of fresh information, and it is not out of the question that he may want to offload the player.

The opinion of Ten Hag on Van de Beek could be similar to that of Solskjaer, Carrick, or Rangnick. Football has a habit of catching you off guard when you least expect it.