Does this forgotten Man United man still have a big role to play at Old Trafford?

On the back of yet another eventful window of transfer-fuelled excitement down at Old Trafford this summer, in which the world renown likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all sought to join up with Jose Mourinho’s newfound era with the Red Devils in 2016/17 – you may be forgiven for forgetting all about formally exciting Dutch talent, Memphis Depay, and his proposed ability to set the Premier League alight whilst operating for Manchester United.

 

Like the rather more expensive Angel Di Maria before him at Old Trafford, Memphis Depay has simply failed to hit the ground running among the English top-flight despite initially arriving with a rather promising reputation of sorts. The Dutchman admittedly portrayed himself in an exciting light across the 2014 World Cup in Brazil two summers ago, but since Louis van Gaal first took the gamble on his 22-year-old countryman soon after Depay's breakthrough season with PSV, the vast majority of Premier League onlookers are yet to be impressed with the up and coming talent.

 

So then, does Memphis Depay still have enough about him to warrant a fresh start at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho, or must the Red Devils simply look to rid themselves of this arguably over-rated front-man as soon as the chance presents itself?

 

Memphis Depay is the biggest fraud ever to grace a football pitch. Utterly diabolical.

— Ryan Blaylock (@RyanBlaylock17) 15 September 2016

 

Imagine how embarrassed Memphis Depay must be when he collects he pay cheque each week and realises he's paid for being a 'footballer'

— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) 15 September 2016

 

Well, although no player should arguably be written off at the tender age of 22-years-old, Memphis Depay’s future with Manchester United seemingly couldn’t find itself in much of a worse state at this particular stage in the proceedings. As Mourinho has reportedly shown Bastian Schweinsteiger the cold shoulder at Old Trafford for failing to prove his fitness in a Red Devils shirt as of late, perhaps it’s only a matter of time before the former Eredivisie favourite is handed the same brash treatment by the opinion-splitting Portuguese tactician.  

 

The modern game simply no longer has enough patience about it to wait for someone like Memphis Depay to finally prove their worth. Whilst the ex-PSV star could potentially find his feet among the English top-flight in the not too distant future, most Manchester United fans look to have ran out of patience with the Dutch international based on their club’s pressing need to break the top-four this season.

 

It therefore seems as if Memphis Depay will ultimately fail to cement a solid place within Jose Mourinho’s first team plans any time soon, not with the likes of Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and even young Marcus Rashford all vying for his position. Looking back on it, Rashford’s own individual rise with the Red Devils may have made specular viewing for the Old Trafford faithful at the time, but his recent success at Manchester United has arguably all but destroyed Depay’s chances of really breaking through in the long-run.

 

Although Memphis Depay is probably still capable of shining at the very highest level with full faith and confidence working harmoniously on his side, the 22-year-old Dutchman would most likely have to move on from Manchester United in order to reach his greatest potential.

 

Some big money transfer deals simply don’t work out in the end – and barring any last minute dramatic turn of events for the former PSV man this season – Depay’s recent fate among the Premier League seemingly makes it difficult for us to envisage the quick-footed front-man plying his trade upon these here shores for much longer…