Van Gaal persuaded me to join United ahead of Bayern, says Memphis Depay
Manchester United’s recent summer signing Memphis Depay said that he decided to join the club after snubbing interest from a number of other potential suitors, including Bayern Munich, ESPN FC reports. The Dutch international said that it was talks with Louis van Gaal that persuaded him to make the switch to United.
The Old Trafford club completed the signing of the 21-year-old from PSV Eindhoven after he impressed for the Dutch side with 22 goals and 4 assists, which were very crucial to their Eredivisie triumph. Depay played under Van Gaal when the latter was in charge of the Netherlands national team and thrived under the Dutchman. He was one of the three players shortlisted for the Young Player Award at the 2014 World Cup.
The winger said that a host of clubs were interested in securing his signature, with German champions Bayern Munich one of them.
“There were discussions with nearly all clubs,” he told German sports magazine SportBild. “And, of course, FC Bayern was one of them. But in the end Manchester United came out on top.”
Depay said talks with his previous manager at the Netherlands prompted him to choose United, who paid PSV £25 million for his services.
“I can’t say who the best coach in the world is. There are definitely a lot of good and well-known managers and Pep Guardiola is certainly one of them. But I only spoke to Louis van Gaal and he totally convinced me. He gave me the feeling that I was very important for him not only as a player but also as a person. And then it was clear that I would go to Manchester United,” he told SportBild, as per reports in ESPNFC.
Depay named best young player by France Football; plays down comparison with Ronaldo
Depay, who has already been capped 17 times by his national team, was named as the best young player in the world by reputed sports magazine France Football, ahead of Marquinhos and Manchester City’s £49 million signing Raheem Sterling, The Independent reported.
However, he talked down comparisons with reigning World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo, who himself shot to prominence at Old Trafford.
“I’m a long way from Ronaldo’s level yet,” the Dutch winger said. “He has already achieved so much and scored so many goals. I’m only 21 and still have to prove myself first.”