Manchester United Flop Memphis Depay Lifts Lid On Life Under Jose Mourinho At Old Trafford

He was handed the iconic No.7 shirt but struggled under countryman Louis van Gaal.

However, things got even worse during Mourinho's spell in charge, with the current Roma manager failing to give Depay a single start in the Premier League.

Depay, who lasted just 18 months with the Red Devils before being flogged to Lyon, told El Periodico: "I've thought a lot about why it went wrong.

"The first season I had to adapt, and it didn't go well compared to my time at PSV.

"I lost a bit of confidence, and I lost the confidence of Van Gaal and his staff.

"It was hard for me. The following season I felt like I had more experience, but they changed the coach.

"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."

Depay's move to Old Trafford probably came too soon in his fledgling career.

There were question marks over his attitude, and he would arrive at training in a Mercedes G-Wagen with M7 embroidered in the headrests.

A couple of months later Depay was criticised for attending a lavish birthday party hours after starting in United's defeat at relegation strugglers Sunderland.

He left the Red Devils for Lyon after just seven goals in 53 games but has certainly rebuilt his career since.

He hit 63 goals in 139 league appearances for Lyon before heading to Barca on a free transfer in the summer.