Rio Ferdinand believes Memphis Depay's transfer to Manchester United may have come too early in his career, believing the Dutchman has since matured.
Depay left United in January 2017, less than two years after signing in a £25million move from PSV Eindhoven as a 21-year-old. He made just 16 league starts for United, 53 appearances in all, scoring just seven goals, after being heralded as a huge talent when Louis van Gaal brought him to Manchester.
But Depay, now 27, has shone for Lyon, where he arrived after Jose Mourinho sanctioned his United exit — and the winger is now being heavily touted for a transfer to Barcelona.
He is also shining on the international stage, scoring for the Netherlands in their 2-0 Euro 2020 victory over Austria on Thursday night, which booked De Oranjes' place in the knockout stages.
Ferdinand told BBC Sport: "I think he’s a maverick. He’s a new-age type of personality who embraces everything of the lifestyle of a football player and beyond, and some people who are old school don’t like that and it’s taken time for someone even like me to adapt to that."
Asked why Depay flopped at Old Trafford, Ferdinand said: "I think it comes down to numerous things.
"Timing, the right time and right place, and maturity, he may have gone there too young. And coaching, the right coaching at the right time."
