Memphis Depay has hinted that he may leave Olympique Lyon this summer, with Barcelona rumored to be interested in the Dutch international.
The 26-year-old has been in fine form for Lyon since signing for the Ligue 1 side in 2017, scoring 57 goals and registering 43 assists in 139 matches in all competitions for Les Gones, while also becoming club captain in the process.
It now appears that his time with the club could be up and speaking with reporters concerning his future, he said: ”I do not see the future, I do not know if I will do the full season here.
”I have been here for four years, I became captain. After you have to look at your career, there is no Champions League. At the moment, I don’t know.”
Depay was the star of the show as the French league returned to action, scoring a spectacular hat-trick and forcing an own goal as Lyon ran out 4-1 winners over Dijon.
The premature end to the last campaign due to COVID-19 meant that the final table was determined on a point-per-game ratio, and Lyon could only finish in 7th place, thereby missing out on continental football for the first time in 23 years.
The lack of European action means that the club faces a real threat of losing their best players and Depay is at the top of the pile, with the fact that he has just one year left on his contract meaning that he has to be sold this summer or be lost for free next season.
Although no concrete offer has been made, it appears that Barcelona have set their sights on Memphis Depay, with new coach Ronald Koeman seemingly being keen on him from their time together in the Netherlands national team.
The former PSV man shone under Koeman at the international level, scoring 11 goals in 16 matches to help the Netherlands secure qualification for Euro 2020.
If he does make a move to Nou Camp, it is highly likely that he would not play with Lionel Messi, who has told the club that he wants to leave for free, with many clubs interested in his services.
A second chance at the top level for Memphis Depay?
Memphis Depay emerged as a highly-rated youngster at PSV Eindhoven where he played a starring role in helping the club to lift the 2014-15 Eredivisie title, with his 22 goals seeing him win the league’s Golden Boot and also named the Player of the Year.
This attracted the attention of top clubs around Europe and Manchester United – under the management of Depay’s compatriot Louis Van Gaal – won the race for his signature, signing him in a deal worth £25m.
He, however, failed to keep up the form that brought him to Old Trafford, and looked short of confidence on the field, while also receiving a lot of negative press for his off-field antics and extravagant lifestyle (including once turning up to training in a £240,000 Rolls Royce).
Given his young age and underperformance on the field, the press had a field day with him and accused him of unprofessionalism and not being cut out for elite-level football and Memphis Depay failed to justify the hype that greeted his arrival.
He departed United after two seasons and made just four appearances (all as a substitute) throughout the 2016-2017 Premier League season before signing for Lyon later that summer.
He has since re-established his reputation with a string of fine performances in the French league and given his experience now, and he might make the most of a second chance at the highest level and handle the attention with more maturity if Barcelona come calling.
