Memphis Depay should finalise his move from Manchester United Lyon over the coming days.
Fans of the club won’t miss him. The 22-year-old arrived at United in 2015 off the back of an excellent season with PSV Eindhoven, where he was the league’s top scorer with 22 goals.
However, at Old Trafford, Depay flattered to deceive. He was originally a guaranteed starter, despite once losing the ball 35-times in a game against Newcastle United, but he soon lost his place and was unable to earn it back.
Depay also reportedly had a poor attitude and wasn’t even a member of United’s squad for the FA Cup final.
Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal last summer, and quickly made up his mind on the player. The Dutch winger has made just seven appearances this season.
Who will be next to wear the special jersey? https://t.co/rmKCj0gIjx
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Depay may turn his career around in France. Mario Balotelli, an equally frustrating player, has found a new lease of life playing for Nice.
However, an assessment of his time in England won’t be favourable. The Sky Sports Soccer Saturday crew have had their say on Depay and his transfer, and Charlie Nicholas’ take on the Dutch winger is a bit bizarre.
You may find yourself simultaneously agreeing and disagreeing with the former Arsenal and Celtic striker.
“I would have chased him out last summer,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.
Fair point to begin with. It probably would have been better for everyone involved if Memphis left during the summer window. But he didn’t, and he’s about to, so the situation will soon be resolved.
Listen to the man, Memphis… https://t.co/XHWVC7as9j
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“He’s a show pony,” Nicholas continued.
“He was only interested in the United image. Mourinho doesn’t do show ponies, just ask Joe Cole.”
Charlie’s both right and wrong here.
Memphis meets all the criteria for a “show pony.” He likes to run at players, but rarely beats them. If he does, his final ball is usually poor. Every so often he will remind people of his talent, but he’s no-where near as good at football as he thinks he is.
Mourinho also isn’t a fan of such players, but Joe Cole is a poor reference. The former West Ham winger played over 100-times for Chelsea under Mourinho between 2004 and 2007.
He was a very skilful player who had to adapt under Mourinho and increase his work-rate. He had to play for the team and thus sacrifice some aspects of his game, and that’s exactly what he did.
Cole played almost 300-times for Chelsea. He was part of a team that won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups. The winger was named on the PFA team of the year in 2006, and won Chelsea’s player of the year award in 2008.
Comparing Cole to Depay just doesn’t fit.
“He’s a poor version of Neymar,” Nicholas said.
“When he does a trick he doesn’t even leave the player, he wants to stay and do another trick.”
Nicholas is correct about Memphis’ attempts to beat a player twice. If he manages to beat the player the first time, that is.
However, calling him a “poor version of Neymar” is ludicrous.
A poor man’s Neymar is still a very good player. The Barcelona forward is one of the best players is the world. Meanwhile, Memphis was behind Jesse Lingard the pecking order at Old Trafford.
“What has surprised me is the amount of money they got back. It tells you a lot that no Premier League teams were interested in him,” Nicholas concluded.
