Memphis Depay Deserves Another Chance at a Major European Club
By Mitch Wilks
All hope looked lost for a young Memphis Depay when Manchester United agreed to sell him to Lyon in January 2017, just 18 months after he had joined the club from PSV Eindhoven on a multi-year deal.
It spelled the end of an underwhelming tenure in Manchester that never quite got going, despite the Dutchman being given the prestigious number seven shirt and being hailed as football's 'next big thing'.
While on paper it seemed like a dream move for both the Dutchman and United in 2015, a number of issues plagued the deal. Memphis struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premier League and to live up to the weight immediately placed on his shoulders as United's new number seven. This, combined with a number of people suggesting that Memphis was much more interested in his lifestyle away from the pitch, resulted in him never really finding his feet.
It took him until September to register his first Premier League goal against Sunderland, but even still it didn't help him find a rhythm. He was played as a left winger, a lone centre forward, a supporting striker and occasionally on the right, but nothing seemed to work. Things hit a new low when he was pulled at half time against Stoke on Boxing Day 2015, after an abysmal 45 minutes that saw him be at fault for Stoke's opening goal.
His only standout performance in a United shirt was in a 5-1 win over FC Midtjylland, where he grabbed a goal and an assist in fine fashion. It was a glimpse of what he was capable of, but also a summary of his season up to that point; as he was only ever able to turn it on against poor opposition.
When Jose Mourinho arrived ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, he made it immediately clear that the Netherlands international wasn't in his plans. Memphis only made eight appearances in total before he was sold that January, which again was a summary of his inconsistencies in Manchester.
While it did feel somewhat premature for United to give up on their hot prospect so soon after signing him, admittedly the deal was one that suited all parties at the time. Jose Mourinho didn't fancy the winger in the slightest, Memphis himself had struggled to live up to expectations and Lyon were offering a decent fee - which included a sell-on and a buyback clause.
Moving to Lyon proved humbling for Depay, who quickly had to come to terms with the fact that his opportunity as a main event star could be gone for good. He seemingly used this as motivation in France, which has what has seen him revive his career so significantly. Instead of floating in and out of games, Memphis was determined to improve.
Yes, he still lives an eccentric lifestyle and yes he's actually got a song on Spotify, but that doesn't matter now that he's backing it up on the pitch. He's grown into a leader and grabs games by the scruff of the neck. This has been recognised, and has seen him captain Les Gones as a result.
Now 26, Depay is older and wiser than he was while with the Red Devils and has learned more from experiences on and off the pitch. It's allowed him to develop his game and grow into a much more well-rounded player - and a player who has been instrumental in Lyon side reaching the Champions League semi final. He's managed 15 goals and two assists from 22 appearances in all competitions this season, which is an impressive tally considering he tore his ACL in December.
What has also helped him is consistent tactics the feeling of togetherness in Lyon's youthful side, and it's allowed Memphis to become a leader by default, rather than have it thrust onto him like at United.
If the Dutchman was to return to Old Trafford - should they activate his reported buyback clause -there's a high chance he'd enjoy a lot more success in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's refreshed, attacking side that plays with passion and has an actual identity.
The likelihood is that Memphis Depay won't be at Lyon much longer after proving himself enough to earn another shot with an elite European club. It's only a matter of time before someone takes that gamble on him, but if Manchester United aren't the ones to do so, then they'll simply have to watch on and wonder 'what if?' with regards to their mercurial Dutchman who got away.