Now his former agent Guido Albers claims that Van de Beek, currently on-loan with Eintracht Frankfurt, is being denied a move to another Premier League club.
Albers told ESPN's Goedemorgen Eredivisie: "I think that's wonderful, he has been away from me for a while.
"For me it is a very nice moment in his career to pick it up again. We said together, 'Back to basics'.
"He's lost that a bit in recent years. He is hungry and eager to please. I came to an agreement with Frankfurt for him.
"Frankfurt still had an option until June 30, which they will not exercise. Officially he is now going back to Manchester United and I am now in discussions with him.
"Donny does not want to stay in the Premier League, also because United do not want that. That is not a good choice for him.
"He needs to return to a club that plays good football. In any case, he will not return to Ajax.
"My preference was to look in Spain, Italy or France. If I could get him in Spain or Italy that would be fantastic, at a club where he will play as a No10 like he played at Ajax.
"You see that the Dutch are successful in a certain way in Spanish or Italian football.
"He was very close to a transfer to Real Sociedad last summer. That was canceled at the last minute because Erik ten Hag wanted to keep him until the last minute. Then he ended up at Frankfurt."