From Man United Flop to Netherlands Record-Breaker: The Curious Career of Memphis Depay

Memphis Depay wrote himself into Dutch football’s history books at the weekend by becoming his country’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.

A brace in a 3-2 win away to Lithuania took him to 52 goals in 104 caps, moving two clear of Robin van Persie, who retired in 2019 with 50 from 102. Yet while Van Persie is widely remembered as one of the great strikers of his generation, far fewer would describe Depay as truly elite. So how did a player many Premier League fans remember as a Manchester United flop become Oranje’s record-breaker?

Memphis Depay breaks Netherlands scoring record

Speaking after he broke Van Persie’s record in Lithuania on Sunday evening, Depay appeared to hit back at critics who had suggested the Netherlands were lacking a top-level frontman.

“People often say, ‘What are we supposed to do with our striker position?’ But we actually have a striker who scores a lot of goals,” he said. “I try to let my feet do the talking; they’re not going to get rid of me just yet.”

It was a defiant statement from a player seemingly high on confidence. His international record speaks for itself. Since opening his Netherlands account at the 2014 World Cup, Depay has netted at least one international goal in 12 straight years, including a remarkable splurge in 2021 when he bagged 17 in 16 games.

That output has now carried him beyond some of the most celebrated figures in Dutch football. Van Persie is the name he has just overtaken, but Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Patrick Kluivert and Arjen Robben are also in his rear-view mirror. His position at the very top of the Oranje scoring charts places him in exalted company and makes a strong case for calling Depay the king of Dutch strikers, underlining how significant his contribution has been over more than a decade with the national team.

Depay’s career path

For all his achievements in an orange shirt, Depay’s club journey has been far less straightforward. He announced himself at PSV Eindhoven, where his blend of pace, power and flair made him one of Europe’s hottest prospects. In the 2014–15 season he fired 22 league goals to finish as the Eredivisie’s top scorer and carried PSV to the title, form that convinced Manchester United to part with £25 million for his signature.

Old Trafford was supposed to be the platform for superstardom, but instead it was the scene of one of the most difficult spells of his career. Across 53 appearances he managed just seven goals, lost his place in the side under Louis van Gaal, and then fell completely out of favour once Jose Mourinho arrived. Within 18 months he was gone, and many in England had written him off as another expensive misstep.

It was in France that he rebuilt his reputation. At Lyon he became captain, talisman and match-winner, scoring 76 goals in 178 games and leading the club back into the Champions League. He helped them to a memorable run to the 2020 semi-finals, combining leadership with flashes of brilliance that had once seemed destined to fade.

Barcelona offered him another crack at the elite in 2021, and though he started brightly with 12 goals in his debut season, the timing again worked against him. Messi had just departed, the club were mired in financial turmoil, and when Robert Lewandowski arrived a year later, Depay was pushed to the margins. A short spell at Atletico Madrid followed, bringing a Copa del Rey winner’s medal but no lasting impact.

Then, in 2024, came one of the most surprising moves of his career. At 30, and still leading the line for the Netherlands, Depay chose to leave Europe altogether, signing for Corinthians in Brazil. He framed it as an adventure — a chance to play in “the Mecca of football” — and while sceptics wondered if it signalled decline, he remains one of the most recognisable stars in South America’s biggest league.

What went wrong for Depay at Man United?

Depay’s time in Manchester remains the great blemish on his club CV. Signed in 2015 and immediately handed the fabled No 7 shirt, expectations were enormous. Instead of becoming the new talisman, he found himself overwhelmed.

The Premier League’s intensity caught him off guard, Van Gaal’s tactical demands restricted his natural instincts, and before long his confidence began to unravel. “I lost a bit of confidence and I lost the confidence of Van Gaal and his staff,” he admitted later, reflecting on those early months at Old Trafford.

When Jose Mourinho succeeded Van Gaal, Depay hoped for a fresh start but it did not work out. He later revealed that he went to Mourinho’s office to plead for a chance, but “it changed nothing”. Teammates such as Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were said to be puzzled by his absence from the line-up, but their questions went unanswered.

By the winter of 2017 Depay was gone, leaving behind just seven goals in 53 appearances.

Rio Ferdinand would later argue that the move came at the wrong time in Depay’s development. According to Ferdinand, “Timing, maturity and coaching” were the key factors that resulted in Depay flopping at Old Trafford.

Is Memphis Depay world-class?

That question has followed Depay for the best part of a decade. In January 2023, Ruud Gullit addressed it directly when Depay was struggling for minutes at Barcelona. “Memphis has a problem at Barcelona because in front of him there is a world-class player like Lewandowski,” Gullit said. “Is Memphis a world-class player? He can be. At Lyon he showed that he can be, but we must also remember that at United he failed and now this is happening at Barca.”

Depay himself has never lacked self-belief, often speaking as though he belongs among the elite, yet the club game has failed to provide conclusive evidence. For the Netherlands, however, the numbers are undeniable. To surpass Van Persie, Huntelaar, Kluivert and Robben is no small feat.

Perhaps the fairest conclusion is that Depay has been world-class for his country, even if his club career never matched the billing. He may not be remembered as one of Europe’s great forwards of the 21st century, but in an orange shirt he has secured a place in history that nobody can take away. From Manchester United flop to Dutch record-breaker, Memphis Depay’s curious career has rarely followed the script — and that is exactly what makes it unforgettable.