Big things were expected of Memphis Depay when he arrived at Manchester United two years ago.
Just 21 at the time, Depay had finished the 2014/15 season as top scorer in the Dutch top flight, helping PSV Eindohoven to title. His performances had reportedly attracted the attention of a number of Europe’s top clubs, with the likes of Bayern Munich also credited with an interest in the player.
In the end, he opted to move to United, where he would once again work under Louis van Gaal, his former national team boss.
Despite being handed the club’s famous number seven shirt following his Old Trafford arrival, things didn’t work out for Depay in Manchester. Months after his debut, he was on the bench. By the end of the season, talk of a move away had already started to surface.
Although the arrival of Jose Mourinho a year ago was seen by some as an opportunity for Depay to show what he could do, his first team opportunities remained limited. In January, he moved to France, signing for Ligue 1 side, Lyon.
Reflecting on his disappointing spell at United, Depay has now admitted that his performances in his first (and only) full season in England were below par.
“In the first season, I didn’t contribute enough,” he told L’Equipe.
Despite this, he believed that he would’ve turned a corner during his second season at the club if Mourinho had afforded him more first team opportunities.
“I believe you need a year to succeed in the Premier League, it’s the fastest league in the world. The second [season], I had my self-belief back, but I didn’t play.
“It’s then that you look at yourself in the mirror and you ask yourself a lot of questions: ‘Am I not good enough?’ It was really tough.
“To stay positive, you have to be very strong mentally. That experience made me grow up and is useful to me today.”
Depay has now started his first full season in France. United insisted on a buy-back clause in the deal that took the 23-year-old to Lyon.
