Memphis Depay describes where he "belongs" as a contract clause from Manchester United pops up.
The Netherlands international struggled to live up to expectations after joining Manchester United in 2015, but he impressed enough for a buy-back clause to be included in his next contract.
Memphis Depay has revealed where he feels he "belongs" amid a flurry of Premier League interest as Barcelona considers selling the 28-year-old.
The Dutchman only arrived at the Camp Nou last year, but due to the Catalan giant's precarious financial situation, they may be forced to cash in on the forward to fund transfers for more pressing positions.
As things stand, Tottenham Hotspur are the English club with the most interest in signing Depay, but there are plenty of signs that a return to Manchester United cannot be ruled out at this point.
Depay told Voetbal Primeur three years ago that he would be open to returning to the English top flight, where he believes he belongs. "It's a really nice competition," he said. "I belong to a good football team that can play around me so that I can do my thing. I'll never say never."
Depay joined United seven years ago after being lured away from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of £25 million by then-Red Devils manager and fellow countryman Louis van Gaal. However, he failed to demonstrate the kind of talent that made him so lethal in the Eredivisie, and United sold him to Lyon after only two years.
Jose Mourinho was in charge when United parted ways with Depay. He gave the forward permission to leave for France, but not before inserting a buy-back clause into Depay's Lyon contract due to the amount of potential the Portuguese coach clearly saw in the forward.
In typical Manchester United fashion, the club decided not to activate the clause while he was lighting up Ligue 1. Even after it became clear that he would leave Lyon, the Red Devils disregarded the clause they had inserted into the agreement.
By the moment Depay agreed to his next move with Barcelona, United had run out of time to activate the clause, and it had become null and void following his departure from Lyon. However, the opportunity to right that wrong may be approaching.
With Depay's departure from Camp Nou looming, speculation about his next move has begun. While Spurs are eager to add the Dutchman to their forward line, United may have the upper hand if they enter the race for a variety of reasons.
First there is that it is entirely plausible that Depay sees a reunion with United as an opportunity to prove his worth at arguably England's most powerful club. His previous stint left a lot to be desired, but he'd return as a far more experienced and well-rounded player.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0