Transfer Rumour Memphis Depay

[jinkyali]

Call him Memphis. Not Memphis Depay. Or worse, just Depay. It's Memphis. And if this sounds like arrogance from a young star, insisting his budding brand already justifies a mononymous existence, it isn't. The 21-year-old Manchester United and Netherlands forward has good reason to ditch his last name.

"You get reactions like: ‘What's that boy thinking? That he's a star?' " Memphis told Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant in 2013. "But those people don't know what's going on."

"It's very tricky for me, because you'd prefer to play with your last name on your jersey, like everybody," he said. "But the rift with my father is irreparable. I don't speak to him. I have no contact with family on my father's side. And I never will again."

Memphis doesn't wear his father's name because, as he puts is, "He hasn't earned it."

Figuring out United's 30-odd-million-dollar mega-signing is something of a jigsaw puzzle. He isn't talkative and mostly shuns the media. But piece together the scraps from rare interviews, almost all of them given in Dutch in the last year and a half or so, and the outlines of a picture emerge.

Memphis was born to a Dutch mother and a Ghanaian father on the outskirts of Rotterdam. Theirs was a bad neighborhood, rife with crime and the occasional riot on New Year's Eve. When he was four, his father left them. His mother took up and moved in with another man, who already had 15 children. Memphis was the 16th. It was an unhappy time.

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"What exactly happened at home I won't be telling you," Memphis said once. "I don't want people feeling sorry for me."

In a TV interview he gave away a little more. "In that time, I just had to survive, I just had to fight my way through it," he said. "I could speak of things like physical abuse, but I don't feel like it."

Soon enough, his mother's new boyfriend won millions in the lottery and ended things with her. Memphis and his mother lived a sparse life from then on, with money forever tight. His biological father was mostly absent and had no significant role at all in raising him.

It left a confident but confused Memphis in search of father figures. He adored his maternal grandfather, but he passed away when he was 15. By that time, he'd left his local club for Sparta and then moved on to PSV. But they didn't know how to handle him. He was difficult, petulant and angry. So angry. He raged against any authority figures in his life.

He had no use for school and spent the time waiting for the van to take him to practice after class. But on the soccer field, Memphis was as gifted as he was uncoachable. While his behavior cried out for guidance and discipline, he felt mistunderstood by his coaches. He came close to getting kicked out of PSV's academy several times, but again and again, his obvious and abundant talent came to his aid. It was apparent, by then, that he was the most exciting winger to emerge from the Netherlands, a country besotted by wingers, since Arjen Robben.

While soccer brought conflict, it was also a refuge. "I think it kept me off the street," Memphis said once. "I did things you're not allowed to do; more than pranks. I don't want to talk about that. But at a certain point you start thinking. If you get arrested, they might not let you play soccer anymore. I've seen plenty of young guys fall away. They couldn't leave the streets alone."

In spite of it all, he made PSV's senior team. Ever brash and occasionally boastful, he was frustrated by how long it took to break into the lineup, though. At just 18, he told Elf magazine: "Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, boy are they good. What they've done, I try to emulate. I have the talent and the potential is there. I'm physically strong, fast and can score goals. I'm very strong mentally. Every footballer has his own story. Everything I've been through has made me very mature for my age."

Very sad, tough read.
Maybe someone from Holland can put the arm around him. He may also understand what it is like to represent a club that is predominantly working class.

 

[bluestevon]

@MoutsGoat , you should have tagged @LinekersLegs into that post with the article mate, she'd adopt him like a puppy with big soft eyes.

 

[paulbefc]

I'd really prefer a loan with a view to buy as there'd be no pressure. I feel if this lad signs permanently and has a rough start, his reputation as a bit of a tit/United reject, a large fee and considerable wages could see the fans lay into him and things could turn a bit sour.

I'd back Koeman over most to get a tune out of this kind of player though. We'll see.

 

[micknick]

Was looking for that, but found the Dutch article. Didn't really fancy translating it. So thanks!

Can you write Dutch mate?

 

[Dutch Toffee]

Can you write Dutch mate?

Google translate, copy and paste. Don't think anyone on here would notice

 

[Jebus_lives]

hes from a bad upbringing, cant remeber the whole story, but lets just say he does have a few issues. thats not to say he wont go on to fulfill his potential.

Hope so. If Koeman can bring him under control and give him a platform then he could be excellent as he has talent.

 

[micknick]

Google translate, copy and paste. Don't think anyone on here would notice

Ik kan nederlands mate spreken. kiss me snel en hard. Memphis Depay is de zoete zoete muziek van liefdevolle

 

[Dutch Toffee]

Ik kan nederlands mate spreken. kiss me snel en hard. Memphis Depay is de zoete zoete muziek van liefdevolle

Google translate?

 

[rochdaleblue]

Very sad, tough read.
Maybe someone from Holland can put the arm around him. He may also understand what it is like to represent a club that is predominantly working class.

I've been very critical of depay and his attitude on here, but not so his ability. However reading that, you can fully understand what the lad has gone through in his personal life. Whereby I can't condone some of his 'attitude and commitment' issues the lad has, you can fully understand why the lad has 'gone off the rails'. Although koeman doesn't strike me as a 'father figure' maybe being such an icon in Dutch football, he could be the man to harness and get the best out of Depay.

 

[jinkyali]

I've been very critical of depay and his attitude on here, but not so his ability. However reading that, you can fully understand what the lad has gone through in his personal life. Whereby I can't condone some of his 'attitude and commitment' issues the lad has, you can fully understand why the lad has 'gone off the rails'. Although koeman doesn't strike me as a 'father figure' maybe being such an icon in Dutch football, he could be the man to harness and get the best out of Depay.

The kid probably struggles to deal with criticism/rejection/pressure.

What he may not realise is that he has probably acheived more in his life than 99% of the general public. Scored and represented his country, earnt millions, got to the top of his skill set.

 

[marnie]

Few lights on in the office but this rain making it difficult to see who's who.

More to come when I can lids.

Gg out.

You are always in the bushes lol Are you sure you're not just Dogging !

 

[Tin-Tin]

The kid probably struggles to deal with criticism/rejection/pressure.

What he may not realise is that he has probably acheived more in his life than 99% of the general public. Scored and represented his country, earnt millions, got to the top of his skill set.

Agree, but the human mind is a fragile thing so although we can look and say he's achieved this and that, come through the adversity and made something of himself, it must be hard to let everything he's gone through go.

The fact that Everton are a very family like club, which is always pointed out by players and we have no big time charlies may help him settle. But without professional help, his anger etc may always be there.

Its a sad story. Makes me want him more though.

 

[allen]

I've been very critical of depay and his attitude on here, but not so his ability. However reading that, you can fully understand what the lad has gone through in his personal life. Whereby I can't condone some of his 'attitude and commitment' issues the lad has, you can fully understand why the lad has 'gone off the rails'. Although koeman doesn't strike me as a 'father figure' maybe being such an icon in Dutch football, he could be the man to harness and get the best out of Depay.

Koeman will change his life. There will be a West End musical about the Koeman / Depay relationship in the years that follow. It'll be produced by Bill (enthusiastically) and be called "Fathers and Sons." It'll be hailed as "the greatest triumph in musical theatre since Blood Brothers - and then some," by Time Out magazine. Four-and-a-half stars.

 

[jinkyali]

Agree, but the human mind is a fragile thing so although we can look and say he's achieved this and that, come through the adversity and made something of himself, it must be hard to let everything he's gone through go.

The fact that Everton are a very family like club, which is always pointed out by players and we have no big time charlies may help him settle. But without professional help, his anger etc may always be there.

Its a sad story. Makes me want him more though.

Absolutely; I am not downplaying the mental trauma he suffered and may continue to now.
It makes me want him to succeed even more and if its with us then great. I think it will be.
Get Jimmy Martin and Big Dunc in with him and he will feel at home.

 

[Nymzee]

Think he'd thrive in our squad. Seems like all the younger lads really get on outside of football.