Previous comments from Jose Mourinho may explain why Manchester United are exploring bringing Memphis Depay back to Old Trafford.
Depay first joined the Red Devils in 2015, but endured a disastrous spell at the Premier League giants before leaving just 18 months later. A successful four years at Lyon earned him a surprise move to Barcelona.
The LaLiga giants are now ready to offload the Netherlands international though, having signed Robert Lewandowski in the summer. Having made just three appearances for Barca all season, it appears that he will be departing the Nou Camp in January.
United are thought to be one of the frontrunners for the 28-year-old, with boss Erik ten Hag keen to sign an attacker. The Red Devils terminated Cristiano Ronaldo's contract ahead of the World Cup, leaving a gap in their squad for a striker.
It is not much of a surprise that they are looking towards their former star in their search for a new striker. His former boss Mourinho hailed the attacker, despite moving him on within the first season he took over as manager at Old Trafford.
"He is a really good professional. People can look at him and probably think he’s a party boy. I think he got this maturity in Lyon which is sometimes what players need," Mourinho told talkSPORT in 2021.
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"Sometimes they can go too early to the biggest clubs where they are not ready to cope with it. Where they are not ready to understand that in the biggest clubs there are internal competition, that you can not play all the time.
"That there are fantastic players to fight with you for a position. They can lose a little sense of reality and become a bit childish. Which is what happened. So when he decided to go to Lyon it was a great move for him.
"Now he goes to Barcelona with maturity, with a good football age and I believe the Barcelona culture of football will help him also to level up in this important part of his career. But good memories of him and I repeat - he was a good professional."
It was reported last month that Barcelona would be willing to terminate Depay's contract in order to facilitate a deal. With Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial the sole natural strikers in the squad, it is clear another option up-front is needed.
Mourinho's resurfaced comments will only help to convince Ten Hag that Depay is the man to boost his team. United are battling for a Champions League qualification place, but are currently the lowest scorers in the top seven.
