Mourinho and Man Utd didn't have time for Depay, claims Neville

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 28 Jun 2021 11:52 BST

Manchester United and Jose Mourinho need to shoulder some of the blame for Memphis Depay not succeeding at the club, according to Gary Neville.

After starring for PSV in his youth and then at Eredivisie level, Depay earned a huge £25 million move to Old Trafford in 2015.

However, he would go on to make just 53 appearances for the club and scored only seven goals.

Initially signed by Louis van Gaal, Depay struggled in his first season at Man Utd and then became out of favour when Mourinho was appointed in 2016.

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In January of 2017, he was sold to Lyon at a £9m loss.

Depay has since rejuvenated his career in France and emerged as one of the best players in Ligue 1.

He is coming off his most impressive season so far for Lyon as he scored 22 goals and recorded 15 assists in all competitions.

Throughout the year he had been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona and during the Euros last week the free transfer was confirmed, with Depay set to link up with compatriot Ronald Koeman at Camp Nou.

The Barcelona move shows how far Depay has come since being sold by Man Utd after being labelled as a flop.

Neville believes Mourinho had a problem with the player due to his flamboyant nature off the pitch and his interests in celebrity culture and fashion among other things.

"He came to Manchester United when the club wasn’t in a stable position, once Van Gaal had left and when Jose came in, he didn’t want to work with him because of what he did on and off the pitch," the former Man Utd right-back said on ITV.

"When he came to United, they did not have the time for him which is a shame but he has proved with maturity that he has turned into a top player."

Depay: I am a king

In a recent documentary, Depay defended his personality both on and off the pitch, calling himself a king and a lion.

"They say in Manchester I flopped," he said.

"But let’s go, man. I drive a Rolls-Royce, this is my life. I was not given anything, I have earned it all with both feet. I am not good, I am not bad. Just don’t forget to check my past, check my scars.

“I am a lion, I am a king. I have fashion in my blood and only big dreams. I don’t care what people think about me. It is my life and if I am the black sheep, so it is. I do what I want anyway.”

Barcelona have signed three high-profile free agents this summer as in addition to Depay they have recruited Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia from Manchester City.