Donny van de Beek: Frankfurt manager apologises to midfielder after shock snub

Eintracht Frankfurt manager Dino Toppmoller has apologised to Manchester United loanee Donny van de Beek for his exclusion from the club's UEFA Europa Conference League squad.

Van de Beek joined Frankfurt on loan during the January transfer window - the German club retain an option to purchase the player outright for around £15m in the summer - in search of regular first-team football after a torrid few years at United.

The midfielder managed just two goals in four Premier League seasons with the Red Devils, and was even shipped out on loan to Everton for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign. Following his return from said loan spell, Van de Beek failed to make an impression under his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag prior to an ACL injury which ended his 2022/23 campaign early.

Since his loan move to Frankfurt, Van de Beek has featured relatively regularly, making four appearances - including three starts - in the Bundesliga thus far.

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The Netherlands international's frequent domestic playing time ensured that manager Toppmoller's decision not to included the player in his squad for the next phase of the Europa Conference League came as a huge shock to many.

Explaining the decision to reporters after Frankfurt's 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Bochum, Toppmoller insisted that he opted to omit Van de Beek from the European squad due to his injury history.

"He's only played a total of four games in the last two years, so it won’t happen overnight. But I have 100% confidence in his quality, he'll definitely help us in the second half of the season. I told Donny that I was sorry but also what I expected from him now," he said.

Frankfurt have been drawn against Belgian outfit Union Saint-Gilloise in the knockout play-offs of the Europa Conference League.

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