ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VAN GAAL’S NEW STAR
WHO IS HE?
The 21-year-old forward is Holland’s rising star. He made his league debut for PSV against Feyenoord aged 18 in 2012, and Louis van Gaal called him up to the national side the following year. He scored twice at the 2014 World Cup to become Holland’s youngest ever scorer in the tournament and was shortlisted for the Best Young Player award in Brazil.
WHERE WILL HE PLAY?
Like another reported United target, Gareth Bale, Depay can play on the left, the right or through the middle. His natural position is on the left, though, cutting in on to his favoured right foot. PSV coach Phillip Cocu has compared him to Cristiano Ronaldo.
WHAT WILL HE BRING TO UNITED?
Goals, pace and trickery. Depay is the Eredivisie’s leading scorer this season with 21 goals — and six of those have been from free-kicks. He also completed 77 dribbles this season, more than twice Wayne Rooney’s figure (38).
AND FINALLY...
A big part of his character is he was an angry young man. PSV, who he joined at 12, gave him a life coach to help. His Ghanaian father left Depay’s Dutch mother when the player was four. This is why in 2012 he chose to have his first name on the back of his shirt, rather than his surname. He bought his mum a Mercedes this year to thank her for looking after him. Depay loves a tattoo — he has the words ‘dream chaser’ inked across his chest, ‘successful’ on the inside of his lower lip as well as a number of others on his chest and arms, including one on his left arm which is dedicated to his grandfather, who died the day after his 15th birthday.