Memphis Depay got off to a flying start at Barcelona but Koeman’s sacking has left the flagship signing to pay the price with an exit looming… but with a move to Chelsea on the cards, can he right his Man United wrongs back in England?
- Memphis Depay got off to a flying start at Barcelona under Ronald Koeman
- The Dutchman was flying as he helped lighten the mood after Lionel Messi’s exit
- However, injuries and a change of management saw him struggle to hit form
- Now the 28-year-old forward is destined for a summer exit from the Nou Camp
- With Chelsea interested, could he impress in England after his United struggles?
Elvis has left the building but at least we’ve still got Memphis. That was how Barcelona supporters felt about the Dutch international at the start of last season.
In his first game he delivered a free-kick perfectly on to the head of Gerard Pique in Barcelona’s opening win over Real Sociedad 4-2.
It seemed the answer to going on without the recently departed Lionel Messi was for the ensemble to replace the soloist and Memphis was going to be a big part of that.
Memphis Depay (pictured) could be destined for the exit door after just a season at Barcelona
The Dutchman got off to a flying start as he helped lighten the mood after Lionel Messi’s exit
‘We are more of a collective now,’ said coach Ronald Koeman, who had insisted on signing Memphis in the summer.
The former Manchester United forward was one of the reasons why the chants of Messi on 10 minutes in every game soon disappeared.
Barca fans were chanting Memphis’ name when he scored a screamer away to Athletic Bilbao in the next game to earn a point. He had made a flying start. He looked like a player with both the ability and the personality to play for Barcelona.
Depay scored a screamer away to Athletic Bilbao to earn a point for the Catalan side
In Koeman’s last game in charge for Holland he had picked Memphis on the left of his second line of forwards but he was also happy to use him as a less-orthodox No 9 role. His ability to play in both those positions for Barcelona made him ideal for a team missing Messi.
His good start was not enough to save Ronald Koeman though and so, as had happened previously at Manchester United, he was soon under…