Former Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe has warned Donny van de Beek he will have to “do it alone” if he takes the plunge and swaps Ajax for the “enormous” challenge of the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 22-year-old was one of the stars of the Dutch champions’ eye-catching run to the Champions League semi-final last season, scoring in his side’s memorable quarter-final win against Juventus and in the first leg of their last-four defeat to Tottenham.
His stellar rise has attracted the attention of Real as they look to rebuild after a disappointing season, and Zinedine Zidane will turn to the Dutchman if his pursuit of Manchester United’s Paul Pogba comes to nothing.