Feyenoord’s Eljero Elia has revealed that he told his Netherlands team-mate Memphis Depay to first sign for a club such as Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Manchester United.
Depay, who joined the Red Devils from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2015, made a bright start to his career in England before falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.
While the 22-year-old scored six goals and provided seven assists in 45 games for Manchester United last season as he tried to settle in England, he has thus far managed to clock up just 134 minutes over eight appearances in all competitions under new manager Jose Mourinho in the present campaign.
And Elia claimed that he suggested to Depay that it would be better for him if he first played at a club like Spurs before joining Premier League giants Manchester United, where the pressure to make an immediate impact is extremely high.
"I thought Memphis first had to make a stop, first choose a club like Tottenham Hotspur”, he told Dutch magazine Helden.
relatedNewsStory
“United are so big, the pressure is so high.
"He had to immediately make an impact at such a club, while everyone would watch him.”
Elia went on to add that although Depay listened to him, the former PSV star was confident about succeeding at Manchester United.
"Memphis accepted my opinion, but said, ‘I'll try to give my all and I’m confident that I can succeed there”, he added.
