The curious case of Memphis Depay at Manchester United
By André Gonçalves
Just over a year ago, Manchester United signed one of the most interesting talents out there. Memphis Depay arrived at Old Trafford with high hopes after a tremendous season with PSV, a season in which he ended up top scorer in the Eredivisie with 22 goals and won the league in style under Phillip Cocu. Motivated by the youngster’s outstanding season and a £25m transfer fee, the British media – as usual – could not help itself and started the traditional comparisons with top players (like Cristiano Ronaldo). The usual over-the-top stuff.
However, what went unsaid in those reports and comparisons was the fact that it takes time to adapt to a new reality. Depay changed club, changed city and changed country. While there is some people capable of adapting fast, he does not seem to be one of them.
Despite being nurtured by Louis van Gaal, a father-figure for several players, Depay failed to reach his potential in the 45 matches he played last season. Things didn’t go well for him on and off the pitch, with many voices accusing him of lack of professionalism, particularly last February, when he celebrated his 22nd birthday in Rotterdam with a big party, a few hours after his side’s embarrassing defeat to Sunderland.
The Dutchman had previously caused some stir when a couple of months before when he arrived at the training grounds in a £240,000 Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe luxury supercar, right after Man Utd’s defeat against Stoke. The former Oranje international Pierre van Hooijdonk publicly urged him to “quit screwing around and start playing football.”
The club tried to protect him, offering him the chance of living closer to the Trafford Training Centre, in Carrington, but Depay politely refused the offer, opting for one of the nicest views in Manchester at the Beetham Tower, before renting Micah Richards’ luxury mansion in Cheshire. His lifestyle, many believe has been one of the reasons for his lack of success on the pitch and although Ryan Giggs reportedly advised the Dutchman against these kind of distractions last season, not much seems to have change since then.
Depay’s childhood was harsh. His father left him when he was four, leaving his mother to raise him on her own. The mother soon met a new partner but the new man made their lives traumatic and though Depay tried to use football as a means to get away, he did not always succeed. The person responsible for his footballing passion was mostly his grandfather, who died when Depay was fifteen.
The instability Depay suffered while growing up might explain his difficulties to adapt to new circumstances, something that can only be overcame by a kindly and trustworthy coach who can bring back the necessary focus and confidence Depay needs in order to develop all his potential. Following an unconvincing pre-season, Mourinho reassured Depay is an important piece in the squad, stating that last season’s performances were merely a problem of lack of confidence and frustration.
Mourinho also defended Depay against accusations of a lavish lifestyle, asserting that “driving a nice car doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not focused on football”. There are many players that can testify Mourinho is the right man for such job, but oddly, it looks like Depay is not a priority in Mourinho’s plans, with the youngster taking part in only 33 minutes this season. all of which have come from the bench.
The 4-3-3 Mourinho is trying to establish at Old Trafford would perfectly fit with Depay’s DNA. There are plenty of options to play on both wings, with the Dutch international being an obvious contender for the left wing. However, closing down and helping the left-back is not one of Depay’s better qualities, Manchester United need an heavy-rotation midfield, something we are not witnessing at the moment.
Wayne Rooney is not a midfielder and he has been poor, Marouane Fellaini is too slow and Paul Pogba is still trying to understand if it is possible to play football without Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira by his side. In order to maximise the potential of players like Depay, Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford, Mourinho needs to find a reliable trio for the midfield.
After bringing some stability to the team, Mourinho might be able to restore Memphis’ confidence. There is still hope for the player who exhibited pure moments of magic all over the Netherlands. He might not be the new Cristiano Ronaldo but he is certainly a player who can be amongst the top in the Premier League.
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