Depay departs United

Memphis Depay has left Manchester United to join Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Depay moved to United in the summer of 2015 but he struggled to hold down a regular place in Louis van Gaal's team and has made just one start for the club since Jose Mourinho's arrival.

Lyon are reported to have paid an £15million for the Netherlands international but this could rise to £21million.

United have included a buy-back option as well as a sell-on clause and Mourinho has hinted that the 22-year-old could one day return to Old Trafford.

Of course because potentially he is a very good player," Mourinho told reporters when asked if Depay could return to United.

"I think when Mr Van Gaal decided to buy him, he did well. He knew him very well from the national team. He was very young when in the World Cup. He had flashes of top quality.

"He was playing well in Holland - we know that the Dutch league is not the same but he was showing very good things.

"I think Mr Van Gaal and Manchester United they did well to buy him.

"He didn't succeed in this 18 months, I would say, but he is very young so I think it is important for the club to keep control of this talent.

"And we all wish that he plays very, very well at Olympique Lyon and why not to come back because everyone here likes him."

Depay becomes the second high-profile departure after Morgan Schneiderlin's move to Everton and Mourinho admits he is at a loss as to why they struggled at United.

"I think it's difficult for me to answer (why it has not work out) because it also didn't work also last season," he added.

"But from my perspective, instead of trying to say why it didn't work, I think it is easier for me and he deserves me to say that he was a fantastic professional.

"So if somebody thinks it didn't work because he was not a great professional, it is totally wrong. One thing is some picture that somebody takes with him in an amazing car or dressing in a very specific way, but the image is totally wrong.

"The guy is a fantastic professional, he is a kid that respected everyone, a kid that tried to work hard to get more chances, a kid that was frustrated because he was not having that, but I only have good things to say about him. I think this is much more important.

"If I can find a little reason, it is to say he is a player from one position and the only position where we have overbooking and wingers are what we have more, so it is a position more difficult to have chances."

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