‘I’ve never been an average guy’
https://www.facebook.com/notes/memphis-depay/ive-never-been-an-average-guy/563485627143013
Memphis Depay was just a fourteen-year-old player of PSV Eindhoven U15’s, when he took to the club’s training ground, De Herdgang, wearing bright pink boots.
‘Those were the shoes Cristiano Ronaldo was wearing at the time’, says Memphis, grinning.
‘I thought they were so f***ing cool. Pink boots! Haha. I mean that’s cool, man. I was fourteen at the time… Shoes like the ones Ronaldo was wearing, I wanted them too!’
You could already tell the reactions. His youth trainer of PSV, Mart van Duren, bursted out in laughter. Memphis was made fun of big time, as they do in the dressing room. Jokes. Subtle side hints.
‘Pink shoes are girly said Mart’, Memphis continues. ‘He thought it was absolutely ridiculous. But you know what? That day I scored five times, against FC Utrecht. I’m not kidding you. It was stimulating. I only get stronger from those things.’
Memphis leans backwards in his comfortable chair. The story he tells from his past, doesn’t come unexpected. Because the thing we’d like to get to know the most today is:
What made Memphis the Memphis he is today? The young football player who’s always balancing between standing in the middle of the spotlight, and the shadow right next to it.
‘I want to be a star’,
Memphis says halfway through the conversation. Carelessly, almost. But right before that, when talking about the burden of being a famous football player, the other extreme echoes.
‘Lots of times I’m thinking: just leave me. Just let me wear the clothes I want. Why do people act so hysterically about it? What’s the point? Just leave me. I’m just a 21-year-old guy.’
Since his move to Manchester United, Memphis hasn’t had a lot of time to visit his friends and relatives, being stuck between the matches and training of the club. Today he returns to The Netherlands for one day. Outside it’s raining. Inside, in his suite of a Rotterdam hotel, Memphis tells about his motives, his frustrations and ambitions after spending half a year at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Where does it come from, wanting to be a star so badly?
‘I’ve always had that, from the time I was a kid. Being the best. Stand out. Aim as high as you can. I don’t exactly know what it is, but I just don’t want to be average. It never really was my dream to become a football player. My dream was to become the best football player!’
At Manchester United, you immediately embraced the legendary number 7. The first few weeks you played with special laces tied to your boots that read ‘Score my First English Premier League-goal’. You put so much pressure on yourself. Why?
‘It’s part of who I am. I need it, to set new goals. Goals that maybe other people find too extreme. Arrogant maybe. Playing in the youth teams of PSV, I was just the same. Signed my first youth contract, and already focused on the next one. Bought myself an apartment, and already wanted the one across the street. But especially on the pitch: becoming the best player in the world. That’s the ultimate goal - and I can cope with that. Believe me: that pressure will never crack me.'
But doesn’t it hurt a lot when it then doesn’t go that easy? Your first months with Manchester United were difficult.
‘I know. And it’s frustrating. Also, because I know I can do a lot better. I just had to settle in. Get used to the football in the Premier League, to my new life in England. A lot has changed in a very short amount of time. Of course you want everything to go smoothly, but sometimes that isn’t always realistic.’
Arjen Robben was a youngster as well when moving to Chelsea, but his perspectives were different. He was a top talent, bought for the future. It’s a slightly different approach compared to your arrival.
‘I want to perform from the moment I arrive, that’s something I demand from myself. I guess that’s my street attitude; do not fail. Failure just isn’t an option. Maybe that’s because of my childhood and background. A few people really know what I’ve been through, and I would like to keep it that way, but I’ve heard too many times, also in school: you’re never be any good. Maybe it was my own doing, I wasn’t an easy kid, but still… You don’t say something like that to a child. You just don’t do that. I think it made me more determined. I often think about the people telling me my life wasn’t going anywhere. ‘Ha, look at me now. Not that bad right?’
A feeling of revenge?
'Yeah, but not just that. Because of what I’ve been through, I think it’s important to enjoy my achievements. Just be happy with all the nice things I do or experience. And after that, I go on again.'
Since this year, he’s the most expensive Eredivisie-player since all time. Never before did a club pay more money for a player of the Dutch league. Around 41 million Euros, including all the additional fees. It’s more than than what Manchester United paid for Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was also transfered from PSV.
'I’m proud of that’, Memphis says. ‘It’s a special thing. Very special. And it fits in what I want to achieve.'
But a transfer fee like that comes back as a boomerang when it doesn’t go so well, like recent times.
‘Not really. The circle of people around me is small. I mainly have positive vibes around me. They won’t app and message me all the time when the newspaper writes something about me. They don’t need to, because I got a lot of self-criticism. Kees Ploegsma jr., my agent, is also very honest to me. I know when my performance is good or bad. What matters is to keep focusing on the positive. Work hard. Every day I try to become a better player. Doing that, you don’t think about your transfer fee, or wearing a legendary number. I only think about it now, because you brought it up.'
How did you experience the weeks around your transfer?
‘Oh man, it was tense. I spoke to Liverpool, they were really concrete, but because of an injury in their team they wanted to wait a bit. After that, Paris Saint Germain came. They were really concrete too… It’s quite hard, because as a footballer, you’re not in control of everything. Some clubs wait with putting together their team until the summer arrives, while we were already negotiating in May. With SEG, my agency, I sat down and considered everything, but then Manchester United came. Very quick and very direct. At that moment you immediately know: this is it. This is the absolute top. As a club, but also the league.'
Some players first take a step between. ‘Yes, some do. One year earlier, Tottenham Hotspur was interested. I’ve thought about it, but my sense of honour is the most important thing. I thought: if I become champion with PSV and top scorer of the Dutch league, something bigger will come. I told myself to aim higher, y’know?'
But wasn’t switching to the Premier League a huge thing?
The pace, the level: playing against a right back of Newcastle United is incomparable to the defence of Cambuur or Excelsior. ‘The difference is enormous. Defenders are physically so strong, top fit and aren’t afraid of anything. That was new to me, especially during my first few games. I had to get used to it. Besides, you could say that my development stagnated in the previous season.’
What do you mean? Your last season in the Eredivisie was too easy?
'Yes. Or let me put it this way: that year I’ve won games even when I wasn’t playing so well at all. It wasn’t necessary to be on top of my game every match. When playing in the Premier League, you have to. You are pushed to get the most out of yourself. Good just isn’t enough when playing for United.’
Wanting to be a star, in Memphis’ world it’s like a total package. It starts on the pitch, but it goes way beyond that. Since this year, Memphis is the ambassador of Under Armour, the American brand that’s impressively conquering the market of sportswear. He could’ve signed for Nike or Adidas, but then he would’ve been one of many players. At Under Armour, Memphis is the man. The face.
‘That’s also a conscious choice’, says his agent Kees Ploegsma jr. ’To a lot of other players I would’ve said: don’t do it. But Memphis is a different story. He performs best when things are extreme. It’s all, or nothing. The absolute top, nothing less. That’s the way he is, and that’s the way he thinks. If we’d approach it differently, he wouldn’t feel good about it.’
The last couple of months, a lot has been written about his style of clothing. About arriving at the Dutch national team wearing a hat, or in Manchester wearing a golden grill in his mouth.
‘Look, he says’, while pointing towards his black leather pants. ‘If I’d wear these at the Dutch national team, everyone would have their opinion about it. Or they’d say my T-shirt is too big. Or these sneakers are too much, I don’t know. While I think: I just wear what I think is cool. I love fashion. If I like a hat, then I’ll wear a hat. What’s wrong with that?’
Nothing, but apparently it evokes reactions. It’s also possible to think: next time I won’t wear a hat, which saves a lot of criticism.
‘But why am I the one that should adapt? Some people collect stamps, I like fashion. Discover new things. I feel good wearing this. If I’d wear the clothes you are wearing, I wouldn’t be me anymore.’
But if you wear a golden grill going to a party, you shouldn’t be surprised if it makes the headlines of the tabloids the next day.
‘That’s actually quite funny: since moving to England I went out one time. One time! Recently I read that Ryan Giggs addressed my behaviour as a ‘party boy’. Total nonsense! Completely made up! Even going out for dinner I barely do, because the paparazzi are standing in front of the restaurant the moment I arrive. It’s like they’ve put a GPS transmitter in my car, and therefore always know where I am. I’ve got my own chef now, who cooks healthy food at my home. I take care of my body really well. I’ve got my own pedicure, making sure my feet are in optimal condition. If I take a look at my life when I’m not playing football, I think it’s never ever been so boring. The way I dress, has nothing to do with wanting to be a ‘party boy’. I’m just a football player.'
