Manchester United might make a surprise Donny van de Beek decision this summer

Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Hakim Ziyech and Donny van de Beek were the young and talented faces that inspired Ajax to an unlikely and remarkable Champions League run in the 2018/19 season, with Ajax making it to the semi-finals.

The Dutch side were only denied the chance of playing in the final by Lucas Moura's late dramatic goal at the Amsterdam Arena. Tottenham executed the unthinkable that night, defying the odds to progress. Ajax were just minutes away from making the 2019 Champions League final and they probably deserved to do so. They captured the continent's imaginations once again that season.

It was inevitable that team would be dismantled soon after that defeat. Ajax's best-kept secrets were now on the international stage and the aforementioned players eventually joined Juventus, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.

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Ajax might have the swagger but they don't have the financial muscle — that's perhaps why they're so endearing. United signed Van de Beek for £35m in the summer of 2020 and it was seen as quite the coup. He had played an instrumental role in Ajax's success in the Champions League and he was flourishing domestically. He was among the world's most exciting midfielders.

Erik ten Hag was the manager responsible for Van de Beek's rise to prominence. Ten Hag had assembled a young, hungry and exciting Ajax side, who played brilliant football against some of Europe's best teams. Ajax have always been fearless under Ten Hag.

Ten Hag rued the departure of Van Beek that summer and Ajax fans were disappointed to see the player leave. Edwin van der Sar even wrote an open letter to United