Memphis Depay’s quality is not in doubt despite the Dutchman having struggled to impress at Manchester United, according to Jordi Cruyff.
The forward's arrival at Old Trafford from PSV generated much excitement, but after a difficult first year he appears to have fallen even further down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho.
The Netherlands international played 29 Premier League games under Louis van Gaal last term, but has been consigned to four brief cameo appearances in the English top flight this term.
While Cruyff feels the change in manager has not helped Memphis he is refusing to write him off just yet and says sometimes a player just does not "connect" with a club.
“He’s young and the first year is always an adaptation year,” Cruyff told Gulf News.
“In the second year, you can feel more loose, but with the managerial change [of Mourinho replacing Louis van Gaal in the summer], and many new players, that second year he might have needed hasn’t come.
“United are also a club that cannot be four or five years without really competing to win things. There may be more changes, but I hope he will not be one of those victims and in the wrong club at the wrong time.
“For sure, United are an amazing club, but I also think Depay is a good player.
“For whatever reason, a certain player and club don’t connect. Even Ibrahimovic when he came to Barcelona, he was an amazing player, but it didn’t happen for him. It doesn’t mean the club are bad or the player is bad.”
The Netherlands international has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford but Cruyff is not convinced that is the best option.
“I would need to have a daily opinion to give advice like this,” he replied. “In terms of stats, he’s not getting enough minutes, but I don’t know the ins and outs.
“But for sure, he has potential and he’s showed that. Now the trick is to get that potential out on a weekly basis. Eventually it will come, but you just don’t know where and when.”
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