One of Ronald Koeman’s first transfer requests last season was Memphis Depay from Lyon. The Dutch winger is very well known to Koeman and they worked closely together in the Netherland national team. In the international team, the Barcelona manager tried to shape the team around Depay while also transforming the traditional winger into a number nine.
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This turned out to be a solid decision as the winger-turned striker has done fantastically in the French league and has become one of the top scorers in the league. The former Manchester United player suffered during his time in England and many thought that he was an overrated player. However, ever since his move to Lyon, Depay has shown the world what he can really do.
Koeman had his eyes set on a reunion with Depay after letting Luis Suarez go. However, the move could not take place due to financial constraints and the inability to sell Ousmane Dembele. The plan was to sell Dembele to Manchester United and use that money to fund the transfer of the Dutch winger however, Dembele refused to move away from Barcelona and thus the whole plan fell apart.
It may have been a blessing in disguise as the player will become a free agent by the end of the season and everything points towards him moving to Barcelona. This means that the Catalans will acquire the player for free and this will help them a lot considering the financial situation they are currently in.
Now that it has been confirmed that he will be leaving Lyon, there is a very good possibility of the player ending up in Barcelona. Thus he could be the central point in the teams’ attack next season. Today we will be looking at the five things Memphis Depay will bring to the Catalan club if the transfer goes through.
#5 Positive relationship with Ronald Koeman
The first thing that a new player at a club must do is strengthen his relationship with his manager. However, that will not be a problem for Depay at all as the 27-year-old knows Koeman quite well and the two worked very closely together in the Netherlands national team. The current Barcelona coach was in charge of the Netherlands national team from 2018 to 2020 and during that time Depay flourished in the national team scoring 11 goals while simultaneously providing 12 assists. He did so in only 18 appearances and this is something that Barcelona fans will be hoping that he can emulate in Catalonia as well. Should he be a success at Barca, it will be all due to his fantastic relationship with Koeman.
#4 The Dutch midfield link-up
Apart from Ronald Koeman, the Dutch national team player will also have an easier time fitting into the squad due to his national teammate, Frenkie de Jong. The two had a good relationship in the international games and they will be looking to reignite that at the club level. Apart from De Jong, the arrival of Gini Wijnaldum could make the Dutch connection even stronger. With Frenkie de Jong playing a bit more attacking, Wijnaldum controlling the midfield, and Depay playing upfront in the number nine spot, the Dutch link-up play will be at a strong display next season. Along with that their manager has also used all these players before and De Jong has had one of his best seasons under Koeman. This could be a sign for the other two Netherland internationals coming into the squad.
#3 Versatility in the wings
One of Depay’s most celebrated assets is the fact that he is not a traditional or a conventional number nine. While Barcelona fans may be in the mood for a true number nine, Depay also brings a lot of positives to the club. While it is true that the player did not start out as a number nine, he can certainly play that role and when required, he can play on the wings as well. This gives the manager a lot of options as to how to use the player on the pitch. While playing on the wings, Depay also becomes a good defensive possibility as the player’s high work rate allows him to fall back to his own half of the pitch and help out the defense, much like young midfielder Pedri. He can bring a new dimension to Barcelona’s gameplay and can be switched about in the middle of the game as well. We will have to wait and see how Koeman decides to use this amazing feature of his.
#2 Longevity and instant impact
Depay is not a youngster who is new to the game neither is he a burnt-out player who only has a few more years left to give. The player is currently only 27 years old which means that he is in his prime and his stats with Lyon can complement this sentiment. The player is quite experienced and has played at the top level of Dutch football, English football as well as French football. With a lot of experience on his shoulders, he will be able to command the team alongside Lionel Messi. He has also been the captain for Lyon in the past season which has also given him some more responsibilities on the pitch. Youngsters like Ansu Fati, Pedri, and Riqui Puig will be able to benefit from his years of experience in top-level football. Depay can carry on for many years at Barcelona if he is a success and the fact that he has already proven his worth at Lyon, PSV and Netherlands, is promising for the Blaugranas.
#1 A proper finisher in the box
Barcelona’s biggest weak point this season has to have been their finishing. Apart from their captain, Messi, no one was scoring goals regularly and with a talented forward lineup of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, and Messi, that is a bit troubling. Messi scored 30 goals in the La Liga and Griezmann was the only other player who could manage to reach double figures. They are clearly lacking a player like Luis Suarez who’s sole responsibility will be to put the ball at the back of the net. That is exactly what Depay can provide. He has been phenomenal ever since his exit from Manchester United and he has managed to score 63 goals and provide 45 assists in just 139 games for Lyon. A proper threat in the box is exactly what the Catalans need and his stats show us that he can provide that for Barcelona.
Are you excited to see Memphis Depay in a Barca shirt?