Manchester United commenced their transfer window by splashing out £25 million on Dutch winger Memphis Depay, and have generally pleases supporters. But who exactly is the latest star at the Theatre of Dreams?
Some fans won’t remember him as Depay, as he prefers and will most likely wear Memphis – as a way to spite his absent father. However, unlike his time in the Eredivisie with PSV, it’s highly unlikely we will see him don the famous number 7 shirt for the Red Devils, with that honour currently reserved for club record signing Di Maria.
The Dutch winger began his career at his hometown club of VV Moordrecht at the tender age of six. He spent three years with the club before moving to Sparta Rotterdam, where he spent another three years prior to signing for PSV. Depay made his Eredivisie debut in February 2012 when PSV beat their rivals Feyenoord 3-2. Depay came on as a substitute replacing Zakaria Labyad in added time. However, it took him until mid-March to score his first Eredivisie goal – just 6 minutes after coming on as a substitute to confirm a 5-1 win against sc Heerenveen. That season he made a total of eight appearances, all as a substitute and scored three goals.
He bagged his first goal in European football, drifting in from the left and smashing the ball into the top corner against Zulte Waregem in a Champions League play-off game. Although PSV failed to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious competition, it didn’t take Depay long to score again in Europe. In just PSV’s second Europa League game he curled an effort in from outside the area against Chornomorets Odesa.
The tricky wideman soon provided an assist for Tim Matavž, however he also picked up two yellow cards in that game and received his first ever senior red card. That season he helped PSV to an eight-game winning streak and guided PSV into Europe for a 41st consecutive season by scoring in the final game of the season against NAC Breda – ensuring PSV finished fourth in the Eredivisie. He contributed 14 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions that season.
He was deservedly included in Holland’s final 23-man squad by the now United manager Louis van Gaal, and made his first appearance in Holland’s second group game against Australia, coming on as a substitute before half time to replace Bruno Martins Indi, who had suffered a head injury. With Holland trailing 1-0 he assisted his new team-mate Robin van Persie in scoring the equaliser, before Depay went on to score the winner. In doing this he became the youngest Dutchman ever to score in a World Cup at 20 years and 4 months old. He also came on as a substitute in their final group game against Chile, tapping in an Arjen Robben cross, to secure a 2-0 win for Oranje.
After such a successful World Cup and previous season, he was linked with big money moves to clubs such as United and Tottenham Hotspur. Despite all the speculation surrounding his future, he started his season in typical style coming off the bench to score and deliver an assist in the return leg of the Europa League play off against SKN St. Pölten. He started the Eredivisie season just as well as he started the European season, scoring twice against Willem II in a 3-1 win. April 2015 saw him net an impressive free kick against Heerenveen to cap off a 4-1 win and win PSV their 22 Eredivisie title – their first in eight years. He scored his final home goal for PSV in a 2-0 win against Heracles. He finished the season as the league’s top goalscorer with 22 goals, and scored 28 goals in 40 appearances in total that season.
Realistically we shouldn’t expect too much. He is still just 21 and has very little experience at a club with the stature and fan base that United have, and will naturally need time to adjust to the higher level of expectation and pressure. In terms of playing style, he has been compared to former fan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. He can be deployed as a striker, however prefers his more natural role as a bullish left winger who enjoys cutting in with his right foot and likes to put defenders under pressure by directly running at them.
He has however been labelled as a ball hog, although it was a title also carried by the Portuguese sensation. In his debut season, it is unlikely he will be a regular starter with Di Maria probably being preferred as the first choice option wide left. It should also be noted that after such an impressive season from Ashley Young, that Depay may even be expected to become United’s third choice left winger or as an impact substitute throughout the 2015-16 campaign.
No matter what it is clear that the staff at Manchester have a very special talent in their hands with so much potential nobody would dare predicts his limits in the future.
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