Ex-Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has raised serious questions about his former club’s decision to sign Donny van de Beek.

The Dutchman has only played a bit-part role since arriving from Ajax for £35m last summer, and Berbatov claims the Red Devils simply signed the 24-year-old without any consideration for where he was going to play:

“It’s a really strange, disappointing and surprising situation. They spent around £35 million on him and, to pay that for a player who isn’t starting many games, doesn’t make sense. I’m not blaming the player at all, but for me it’s one of the most disappointing transfers ever.”

“He has got a lot of quality. I don’t like it when clubs buy for the sake of buying and this is one of those situations. I’m sure he’s banging on the manager’s door and asking questions. I think if he’s not happy, Van de Beek should push to leave.”

Van De Beek has been linked with moves to Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid over the past year, but the player himself is thought to be determined to win his place in the starting eleven.

That is easier said than done, though, with his two main competitors for a starting role being Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. Berbatov’s assessment that the Netherlands international should be allowed to leave is, therefore, not entirely without merit.

With Pogba’s future still up in the air, though, there could still be a place for van de Beek at Old Trafford, although he may have to be very patient if Pogba opts to run down his contract instead of leaving this summer.