Jose Mourinho has backed £25million Dutch flop Memphis Depay to come good after naming him in his 23-man Manchester United squad, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.
Depay, 22 , was expected to be an early casualty under new manager Mourinho after nose-diving last season in his debut campaign at Old Trafford amid claims his flashy lifestyle was hampering his development.
But Mourinho has opted to perservere with former PSV Eindhoven star Depay and jetisoned fellow winger Adnan Januzaj instead , sending the Belgian to ex-United boss David Moyes' Sunderland on a season-long loan.
“Of course, I want Memphis to be part of my squad,” said Mourinho.
“I don’t want to go into last season too much, but I know the player I’ve watched at PSV and the World Cup two years ago when he was a very young kid.
In pictures — Manchester United train for the trip to Bournemouth:
“Having that player in mind, I want to keep him. And I believe in him, yes.Especially as I see a good boy, a good kid, a good professional.
“I don’t care what people think.
"You can see him driving a nice car and you think this guy is not thinking about football, but that is not the case.
“He is frustrated with what happened last season, where he lost all confidence. But he will be back.”