MEMPHIS DEPAY HAS revealed that a conversation with Louis van Gaal convinced him to snub Paris Saint-Germain and join Manchester United.
Last week, PSV and United agreed a €27.5 million deal for the 21-year-old, who will be reunited with Van Gaal after completing a medical this summer. PSV’s sporting director Marcel Brands claimed the Dutch champions already had a deal in place with PSG before United hijacked the move, and Depay admits Van Gaal’s intervention was the major factor in his switch to the Premier League.
“I was really close to a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, I know Manchester United were always interested but not concrete. In the last moment, they called my manager and of course I spoke with the trainer Louis van Gaal,” said Depay.
“It was a difficult situation, let me say that, but after I spoke with Louis van Gaal I said to myself ‘I want to go to Manchester’. “I’m really proud and I believe that I can be a big player for Manchester and give the people there everything I have.”
In his final home game for PSV on Sunday, Depay signed off by scoring a stunning 35-yard free-kick in a 2-0 win over Heracles and the Netherlands international promised United fans he will do the same at Old Trafford.
“I train every day on free-kicks,” the winger told De Telegraaf. “The Manchester United fans can expect something from me in that area. If I get the chance to take free-kicks then I will shoot.”
Depay has been compared to compatriot and former PSV star Arjen Robben and admits he wants go on and become one of the best players in the world.
“I know that people talk about me,” he added. “I believe in myself and I hope I will be able to reach that level. ”
“I will fight for it and will do my best in every training session to get better. I hope to become one of the big boys in the world, but there is still a lot needed. Now I must go and make the first step [at United].”
