Manchester United’s Memphis Depay admits he is still trying to adapt to the physical demands of life in the Premier League.
Depay, signed from PSV Eindhoven for £25m in July, has struggled to make an impact so far at Old Trafford, with manager Louis van Gaal last month urging critics to give him time: “I have to be patient for Memphis, and the fans do also.”
Speaking to De Telegraaf before Holland’s crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Kazakhstan on Saturday, Depay said: “There are a lot of games in Manchester. There are very few rest days and on training days you are mainly concerned with recovering. It’s heavy, two games a week, always at a high level, and my body has to get used to that.”
But he said he had no concerns about his ability to be a success, adding: “I try to manage my career in steps, and I am still in the middle. I think this was the right step and I am happy in Manchester … I’m still developing.”
One issue apparently causing Depay concern, though, is how his off-field fashion sense has amused sections of the Dutch media.
Depay reportedly refused to speak to journalists after training on Tuesday, telling them: “I don’t want to talk to you lot.”