BARCELONA forward Memphis Depay has spoken about his torrid two year spell at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old joined United in a £30million deal from PSV in 2015.
But after just seven goals in 53 appearances for the Red Devils, the Dutch international was shipped off to Lyon for a cut-price £14.4million fee.
And he’s glad that he did make the move away from Old Trafford, especially when players from his own team were asking him why he wasn’t starting.
Depay told El Periodico: “Jose Mourinho came and I fought to get into the team but I think the idea of giving me a chance was never in his head. He never gave me an opportunity. Never.
“I went to his office but it changed nothing. It was a very difficult period, I felt that I was training well and the players themselves did not understand it.
“[Paul] Pogba and Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] told me: ‘Why don’t you ever play?’ For me that was the confirmation that I had no chance.
“And I realised that I didn’t want to be in a big club without playing.”
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Depay went on to say: “I realised [at United] that I had to start over and show everyone that I could be one of the best.
“I had a long contract, of five years, and a good salary, but I did not feel comfortable. So I left and it was the best decision I could have made.”
Depay enjoyed a far more productive time in Ligue 1 with Lyon.
In 178 games for the French club he netted 76 times and provided 55 assists.
His success in France led him to wanting a return to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, and he chose Barcelona.
He joined fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman at Camp Nou this summer after leaving Lyon when his contract expired.
But Depay could only be registered to play for his new club after Gerard Pique agreed a ‘significant pay cut’ from his employers.
The Catalan club are in dire straits financially and were forced into letting club legend Lionel Messi leave earlier this summer.
La Liga financial fair play rules, as well as Spanish employment laws, meant Messi was forced out of the club.
And new signings Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia could only be registered after Gerard Pique’s pay-cut.
The Manchester United flop has one game under his belt for his new club, providing an assist in last Sunday’s 4-2 win against Real Sociedad.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
