Memphis Depay’s time at Manchester United is a huge blot on his career sheet. FC Barcelona’s newly recruited forward has come a long way for his redemption.
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Depay is at the peak of his playing career right now. It made solid sense for a club like Barcelona to snatch him up from the free agency in a blink of an eye. Memphis will soon be playing alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, and Antoine Griezmann in Barça’s frontlines. His rise to the top wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. The Dutch’s life was lined up with roadblocks.
It all began during his childhood in Moordrecht. His Ghanaian father Dennis abandoned his mother Cora when Memphis was only four. His mother remarried another man with a family. After Memphis moved in with his mother to his stepfather’s, he was subjugated to racism and bullying. Both he and his mother endured a tormented environment for quite a while.
For a young Memphis, football became his solace. He thrived in the sport. Soon he began to be plucked from clubs around the Netherlands. First, he started his journey with Moordrecht, his local club, followed by three years at Sparta Rotterdam. Then came the significant step up when he joined PSV Eindhoven.
He climbed up the ranks as he grew under the influence of manager Phillip Cocu. He became an integral part of the team, scoring 50 goals in 124 games across all competitions, and spent nine long years at the club. He won the Dutch Footballer of the Year for his performances during the season. His performances also led him to be named the “Best Young Player” in the world in 2015 by France Football.
Dark times at Manchester United
A remarkable resume followed by the global appreciation made his shine undeniable for clubs like Manchester United, PSG, Liverpool, and Tottenham. In the end, amidst tough negotiations, Depay chose to play at the Old Trafford- disregarding the implications of this move. At the Theatre of Dreams began Memphis’ nightmare. The first significant concern was that he had to compete with Ángel Di María for earning his share of minutes. The second concern was that United had long fallen behind their glory days. It was now under a phase of transition.
Used mainly as a winger, Depay was having it had at the club. United manager Louis van Gaal was scrutinized heavily during this time, and he became cautious about his tactics. Depay was instructed to play in roles that often didn’t back his impacting areas. Playing a completely different game, he lost the traits that made him so deadly.
Gary Neville has taken aim at Jose Mourinho when discussing Memphis Depay's form since leaving United #mufc https://t.co/QbO6Wsem5c
— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) June 28, 2021
His two years of struggle were pathetic to watch. He was a flop at United. He played a total of 53 matches in all competitions, where he managed to score just 7 goals. Having lost the trust of both the managers he played under only meant it was time to move on. On 20 January 2017, Depay signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with French club Olympique Lyonnais which would tie him to the French club until the summer of 2021.
Redemption at Lyon
Memphis Depay’s next destination was Lyon. It is one of the top clubs in France’s Ligue 1. It was the place where the constant criticism of him by global pundits reduced by several folds. In his serenity, he put in the extra work to begin his journey on the path of redemption. Astonishingly enough, Depay found his footing in France’s top division.
The highlight of his career came during this time when he became the second Dutch player to score in six straight Champions League games, following fellow former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. He made a total of 178 appearances for Lyon in all competitions and scored 76 goals in them.
He became a striker during his spell at Lyon, leaving behind his forte as a winger. He also became a regular to represent his national side at major competitions. From being excluded in the team sheets, to be the main star for both his club and country, Depay regained his lost prominence in world football.
A blank page in Barcelona
Memphis did not extend his contract with Olympique Lyonnais. At the expiration of his term, he decided to join Blaugrana. Club president Joan Laporta, alongside former Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman, were both admirers of the forward. Also, it made sense for the club to go for him as he was a free agent with a lot of talent.
It’s another fresh start for Depay here at Camp Nou, and by no means it’s going to be easy. FC Barcelona implements the world-famous tiki-taka, which is the high octane football that makes the club distinguished. Not every star who arrives here can adjust profoundly. It is a challenge for the best of them. We hope that the 27-year-old will do whatever it takes to learn the new traits.
Memphis’ childhood dream was to play for Barcelona, and now that dream is getting its fulfillment. It took him long to arrive here, and along the path, he managed to lose his way and later navigate back onto the right track.
His story is of inspiration- one that still has many unwritten chapters waiting to be written. It’s up to him to make them colorful ones.