Van de Beek benched, but Frankfurt boss backs Dutch star to bounce back: “Sorry, Donny, but trust me!”

Donny van de Beek’s switch back German adventure just took another turn. The Manchester United loanee, hoping to reignite his career at Eintracht Frankfurt, was surprisingly omitted from the Europa Conference League squad, sparking questions and apologies from the manager. But Dino Toppmoller’s mea culpa came with a clear message: “Trust me, Donny, you’ll shine.”

It’s a storyline worthy of a Shakespearean drama. The gifted midfielder, once a key cog in Ajax’s thrilling run, finds himself on the fringes at Frankfurt despite a January move aimed at rediscovering his spark. With just three appearances under his belt, the Europa Conference League snub added another layer of frustration.

But Toppmoller, while acknowledging the Dutchman’s disappointment, defended his decision, citing Van de Beek’s limited game time in recent years. “He’s played four games in two years,” the manager explained, “It takes time. But I have complete faith in him.”

And that faith wasn’t misplaced. In a closed-door friendly, Van de Beek responded with a goal and two assists, a performance that impressed Toppmoller and served as a powerful message: “He handled the decision well,” the boss said, “He’s ready for the challenge.”

This saga throws both Van de Beek’s future and Frankfurt’s intentions into sharp relief. The £9.3 million purchase option looms, but will the club activate it after such a limited impact? And can Van de Beek, despite the manager’s backing, truly resurrect his career in the shadows of Europe’s second-tier competition?