Having starred for Ajax for the last couple of seasons, including impressing in their stunning run to the Champions League semi-finals last year, Van de Beek made a long awaited exit from the Johan Cruyff Arena at the end of the 2019/2020 season.
United forked out £40m to sign the 23-year-old from the Dutch champions this summer but he is yet to start a Premier League game.
The likes of Paul Pogba, Fred, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic have been preferred to Van de Beek in the opening weekends of the campaign.
Van de Beek was an unused substitute when Manchester United drew goalless with Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
"Donny should not have gone to Manchester United," Van Basten said on Ziggo Sport' 'Rondo'. "When you are a good player you want to play every week.
"It is really bad for a player like Donny to play only six or seven games this year. That is shocking for your match rhythm.
"I know he is earning loads and loads more than he used to.
"But as a top player you have to be critical and look at the chances of playing when you sign for a new club.
"Donny should have waited for better prospects and signed for another club."
