Jose Mourinho has opened up on the buyback clause in Memphis Depay’s Lyon contract, leaving the door open for a possible return to Manchester United.
As reported by Daily Mirror, Jose Mourinho has discussed the buyback clause that is inserted in Memphis Depay’s contract with Lyon, allowing Manchester United to re-sign him. The boss also insisted that the Dutch superstar can realise his full potential, having become a pivotal figure at Lyon.
Memphis Depay has resurrected a stuttering career since joining Lyon from Manchester United in January 2017. In 20 months with the Ligue 1 outfit, the player has progressed leaps and bounds, and has become one of their most important players.
28 goals and as many assists in 75 appearances is an impressive enough record, that continues to improve. The 24-year-old has also gone on to cement his place in the Dutch National Side, and there have been suggestions that a big move could be on the cards for the him if he continues his stunning development.
Some of the aforementioned suggestions have pointed towards a possible return to Manchester United. And, manager Jose Mourinho has left the door open for a second coming at Old Trafford for Memphis, while also adding that the Dutch international can fulfill his potential, as he has done previously.
“Because potentially he’s a very good player,” the Manchester United manager said when quizzed about the buyback clause in Memphis’s contract, before adding, “I think when Mr Van Gaal decided to buy him he did well, he knew him very well from the national team, he was very young when at the World Cup he had flashes of top quality.”
“So I think Mr Van Gaal and Manchester United did very well to buy him. He didn’t succeed in his 18 months but he’s very young so I think it’s important for the club to complete control of this talent and we all wish he plays very, very well at Lyon and why not to come back because everyone here likes him.”
Presently, Manchester United are laden with left-sided wingers, with the real need being to bolster the right side of attack. While Memphis can potentially play on the right flank, he has been unable to make a similar sort of impact as he creates from the left wing, which does not make him an ideal immediate target.
But, the player could even be an option to play in a more central role, or a possible replacement for Alexis Sanchez, whenever the need arises in the coming years. For now, Memphis continues to grow as a key player for Lyon, and a possible return to Manchester United remains a distant possibility, although Mourinho’s comments suggest it remains an option.
