Memphis Depay’s former Holland Under-21s coach reckons the forward failed at Manchester United because he moved ‘too early’.
The Lyon star caught the eye again on Friday in Holland’s 2-0 win over France as he continues to rebuild his reputation with five goals and five assists in just 13 games for his club this term.
Depay flopped at United after moving to Old Trafford from PSV for £25million in 2015, with Jose Mourinho sanctioning his sale to Lyon in 2016 for a fee of £16million, potentially rising to £21million, after a return of only six goals and seven assists in 53 appearances.
United retained a buy-back option on Depay and the 24-year-old’s former coach at Holland Under-21 level Cor Pot suggests the move to the Premier League was premature.
Speaking to Voetbalprimeur, Pot said: “I found Memphis especially a very positive boy.
“You already saw that it was a very great talent, maybe he went to Manchester United a bit too early, and that was all too fast. He was just a basic player in Eindhoven, Lyon was a good step for Memphis. It’s fantastic now.
“He keeps on developing himself – not only as a player, but also as a person – Memphis gets a bit calmer, does not do any crazy things anymore, but at the time he was a bit shy.
“Of course you had that fuss with that extravagant behaviour. That seems a bit over now, I think he’s doing fine.”
