Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal rates Memphis Depay as one of the biggest talents of his age but the forward was keen to play down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 21-year-old Holland international is the club’s first signing of the summer – although Torino full-back Matteo Darmian is likely to be next through the door after flying in for a medical – and at £31 million (Dh176m) did not come cheap.
He scored 25 goals for PSV Eindhoven last season, although Van Gaal played him as a winger when he was in charge of the national team and plans to utilise him in a number of possible roles for the Red Devils.
However, he has no doubt about the youngster’s quality.
“I think he is one of the few highly-talented boys of his age and you can hear he is full of confidence,” said the manager.
However, when it was suggested to the player he had already been compared with a former United favourite, Cristiano Ronaldo, the player distanced himself from that.
“That is the best player in the world. I don’t want to talk too much. I want to show it on the pitch,” he said. “I am still young. I played two seasons for PSV. I want to let my feet speak. I don’t want to compare myself with somebody like that.”
But asked whether he thought he could reproduce his scintillating form in front of goal in England, he added: “I think so. I believe I will work on it and I am excited to do my job for Manchester United and to score goals.
“I am a striker – I have to score goals and get assists.”
Van Gaal could play Depay as a striker or a winger and he is looking forward to working out a way to succeed.
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“It is a question mark for me because I have to see how we solve this problem but it is also one of the reasons we have bought Memphis,” he said.
“He has played in the striker’s position in the Dutch team and that was new for him but he learns very quickly. He can play in different positions, so that is also a reason why we have bought him.
“We have to wait and see what position he can give most benefit to the team.”
Van Gaal also confirmed Darmian is scheduled to have a medical ahead of a move from Torino. The 25-year-old full-back is travelling to England after a fee, believed to be in the region of £12.7m (Dh72m), was agreed.
“I have read that in the papers. It is true,” said the Dutchman. Asked whether he was on his way to Manchester for a medical, Van Gaal added: “Yes.”
The Dutchman was less definitive on the future of Robin van Persie, who is in talks with Turkish club Fenerbahce. Asked whether he was looking for a another striker because the Holland international was leaving Van Gaal added: “When you say that it is not all true.
“When we feel we can say he is gone you shall hear it from Manchester United. We don’t have the feeling yet.”
But there could be more inc- omings with German daily Bild reporting Bastian Schweinsteiger had last night agreed a three-year contract to move to Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old has been at Bayern Munich for 17 years but the German newspaper claim a £14m (Dh82m) deal has been struck between the clubs and the player offered a salary of around £7m (Dh41m) per year.
