Things didn’t work out too well for Memphis Depay at Manchester United.
After impressing with PSV Eindhoven, United landed the Dutchman for a sizeable wedge of money and handed him the prestigious number seven shirt – worn by club legends such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and, err, Angel Di Maria.
Clearly, big things were expected of him.
Despite bagging a brace of goals in a Champions League qualifier early in his United career, things soon fizzled out into mediocrity for Memphis. Before long, he was (at best) occupying a spot on the United bench and spending the rest of his time posting pictures of his girlfriend on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPM4DhChZJH/
Having failed to resurrect his United career under Jose Mourinho, a move seemed inevitable. That move came last month, when Olympique Lyonnais agreed to take him off United’s hands. A fee was agreed and a buy-back option was (perhaps ambitiously) inserted in the deal – just in case Depay remembered how to play football again.
After a disappointing full debut for his new club against Saint-Etienne, the Dutchman will have been looking forward to getting up and running in their next match – Wednesday’s evening kick off against AS Nancy.
But when the team news filtered through, there was a Memphis Depay shaped hole in the Lyon starting XI.
La compo lyonnaise !! #OLASNL pic.twitter.com/GjaIJ2sran
— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 8, 2017
Whereas it took a few weeks for Memphis Depay to be benched in Manchester, it’s only taken a couple of games over in France. There’s no suggestion that this was a result of his showing against Saint Etienne, and it might well be down to the fact that Depay simply hasn’t played that much football of late.
Either way, it’s hard not to feel a little sympathy for the bloke. After playing so well in his final season with PSV Eindhoven, nothing seems to have gone right.
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
