Elia warned Memphis Depay against Man Utd move

Memphis Depay was warned against a move to Manchester United, where ‘the pressure is so high, by Netherlands international colleague Eljero Elia.

The 22-year-old completed a switch to Old Trafford in 2015, with a high-profile transfer made on the back of a productive campaign with PSV Eindhoven that saw him finish as the Eredivisie’s top scorer.

Big things were expected of Depay, with fellow Dutchman Louis van Gaal considered to be the ideal coach to bring the best out of him.

Things have not gone according to plan for the forward in England, though, with a slow tumble made down the United pecking order.

It has been suggested that he could be on the move in the January transfer window, with a loan deal mooted in an effort to rebuild his confidence and get a promising career back on track.

This situation could have been avoided, though, had Depay heeded the advice of a countryman and used a different club as stepping stone to a bigger trade in the future.

Elia told Helden Magazine: “I thought Memphis first had to make a stop, first choose a club like Tottenham Hotspur.

“United are so big, the pressure is so high.

“He had to immediately make an impact at such a club, while everyone would watch him.

“Memphis accepted my opinion, but said, ‘I’ll try to give my all and I’m confident that I can succeed there.”

Depay has been restricted to just 20 Premier League minutes this season, and 10 appearances in all competitions.

His most productive outing of the 2016-17 campaign to date came in the colours of his country, with two goals netted in a World Cup qualifying clash with Luxembourg during the recent international break.

Everton have been heavily linked with an approach for his services in January, with Ronald Koeman admitting that he would ‘like to have’ a fellow Dutchman on his books.