Mario Melchiot has used Davy Klaassen’s time with Everton to warn Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek against making a rash career decision.
The Dutch midfielder was heavily linked with mega money moves away from the Johan Cruyff Arena this summer, with most of Ajax’s squad plundered through after a hugely successful campaign.
Everton were one of the clubs reportedly interested in van de Beek, while Manchester United also held interest in the past. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain were seen as possible destinations too but the Netherlands international opted to remain in Amsterdam.
Former Chelsea defender Melchiot believes it was the right decision for the Dutchman, comparing him to fellow Ajax alumnus Klaassen, who joined Everton in a £23.6million move in 2017 and only managed seven Premier League appearances before he was sold for half the price the following summer.
Talking to Goal, Melchiot warned Van de Beek that he should be wise about his career decisions, else he could make a similar mistake to Klaassen, who at the time was seen as a hugely promising star for the Dutch club and has since seen his stock slip considerably.
Melchiot had this to say on Klaassen’s time at Everton in relation to Van de Beek’s future:
I like Van de Beek’s character and the way he plays. I just hope his first move is one to play.
If not, then they had a player like Klaassen who did really well at Ajax but came to Everton and he couldn’t perform so he ended up on the bench because he couldn’t adjust to the English game.
Sometimes in Holland they underestimate what some of us did to survive playing over there for 10 years.
If he [Van de Beek] goes to Real Madrid one day, I am not saying he is not good enough, but if he isn’t given assurances that he will play, or get a fair chance, then he shouldn’t go.
Read Everton Verdict
What is interesting about this story to me is that Melchiot has thrown Everton’s name out there in relation to elite clubs like Real Madrid. Melchiot is concerned that Van de Beek would struggle for minutes at Madrid like Klaassen did at Everton, but they look like entirely different situations.
I get the comparison, I do, but Klaassen was given a handful of chances (not enough in my view) to impress and he couldn’t do it. Van de Beek would be seen as a more long-term player for clubs like Madrid and PSG.
It is interesting though, and slightly disappointing, that Klaassen’s time at Everton has become the barometer of which players can compare themselves against when judging if they’ve failed to succeed at a club.
Klaassen’s time was disappointing, but I would still maintain it was the right career move at the time for all parties involved, it just didn’t work out unfortunately.
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