Memphis Depay Linked With Man Utd Return As Mourinho’s Reason for Selling Him Emerges

• Memphis Depay left Manchester United in 2017 during the time of Jose Mourinho, but the player is linked with a return
• Depay has entered into the final year of his contract with Barcelona which could prompt Xavi to allow him to go
• Mourinho had stated that the competition in the Manchester United attack was his reason for allowing the Dutchman to leave

Barcelona star Memphis Depay has been linked with a return to Premier League club Manchester United as he enters into the final year of his contract with the Spanish club.

The Dutchman left the Old Trafford club in 2017 and continues to be linked with a possible return.

Manchester United’s then-manager Jose Mourinho disclosed that there was fierce competition within the team which prompted him to allow Depay to leave, Manchester Evening News reports.

The forward then moved to France to join Ligue 1 side Lyon, but following his remarkable impact, Barcelona signed him in 2021.

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And now that the Catalan giants have welcomed strikers Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, manager Xavi could allow him to leave.

During his stint at Old Trafford, Depay managed just seven goals in 53 appearances for Machester United after joining from PSV Eindhoven.

But Mourinho insisted that had nothing to do with his decision to sanction the sale. The manager said in 2017 as per Mirror:

"He was a fantastic professional, so if somebody thinks he didn’t work because he was not a great professional it is totally wrong.

"That there are fantastic players to fight with you for a position. They can lose a little sense of reality and become a bit childish. Which is what happened."

Riqui Puig, Neto return to Barcelona training

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Meanwhile, the pair of Riqui Puig and Neto showed up for Barcelona’s pre-season medicals on Monday despite earlier instructions that they should search for other clubs.

The Catalan giants finished second on the La Liga standings last season and now the players have returned to the club for pre-season training.

Most members of the squad reported to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper for mandatory medical tests and according to Mundo Deportivo, there were a few surprise faces.

Franck Kessie delighted to join Barcelona

Sports Brief earlier reported that some past comments that Barcelona's new signing Franck Kessie's latest comments will excite his new fan base.

Kessie completed a move to Barcelona after failing to agree to a new deal with AC Milan.

He has penned a four-year contract in Spain and will be unveiled officially on Wednesday, July 6.