Having not started a single Premier League game this season, the Dutch winger’s Manchester United career looks rather bleak under manager Jose Mourinho.
After falling out of favour with the new manager, Manchester United outcast Memphis Depay might be offered a lifeline away from England by Serie A side AS Roma.
Italian daily sports newspaper Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) have reported that Roma’s sporting director Ricky Massara is working out the possibility of acquiring the former PSV Eindhoven winger on loan in the January transfer window, with an option of making the deal permanent in the summer.
With the Italian club set to miss influential winger Mohamed Salah in January due to international commitments for Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, the signing of Memphis Depay has been made a priority by Roma’s sporting director.
The claims from Corriere dello Sport seem to corroborate the reports of Calciomercato, who had earlier reported that Roma are leading the race for Depay’s signature. Bundesliga outfit Wolfsburg are also reportedly in the race for the Manchester United winger.
Memphis Depay had previously stated that even though he is at his dream club, he would still be tempted to leave Old Trafford in search of more playing time. The Dutchman has played a total of only 118 mins in all competitions this season for the club.
The situation for the 22-year-old doesn’t seem to be improving any time soon, with the Independent reporting that Jose Mourinho wants to work with a shorter squad. Matteo Darmian, Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin are seen as being first in the firing line come January.
Memphis Depay joined the Red Devils for a fee believed to be around £25 million from PSV, after he finished as the top scorer in the Eredivisie, leading the Dutch club to the league tittle.
Much was expected from the explosive winger, but he did not have the best of times in his first year at Manchester. Despite some very erratic performances, however, he did enough to show the talent he possessed in flashes.
Everyone believed Depay would showcase his real potential this season after negotiating through a tough first season of adjustment in a new league, but it seems manager Jose Mourinho has other plans. It needs to be added that all is not lost for Depay; at the age of 22, he has time on his hands. He can afford to be patient and continue to strive to reach his potential at a club where he can be guaranteed playing time.
