‘Show pony Memphis is a poor version of Neymar’

Joe Williams

Charlie Nicholas has launched a scathing attack on Memphis Depay with the Manchester United forward nearing a move to Lyon.

The Netherlands international joined the Red Devils in a £25million deal from PSV in June 2015 but after 33 appearances he has only managed to hit the back of the net three times.

United are now on the verge of selling Depay, with Lyon having a £21.7million bid accepted for the 22-year-old, with the French club’s president expecting to seal the deal in the next “48 hours”.

For Sky Sports pundit, Charlie Nicholas, the departure of Depay can’t come quick enough with the Scotsman labelling the Dutchman a “show pony”.

“I would have chased him out last summer,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.

“He’s a show pony. He was only interested in the United image. Mourinho doesn’t do show ponies, just ask Joe Cole.

“He’s a poor version of Neymar. When he does a trick he doesn’t even leave the player, he wants to stay and do another trick.

“What has surprised me is the amount of money they got back. It tells you a lot that no Premier League teams were interested in him.”