Tottenham told ‘terrific talent’ they want to sign ’better off’ not being at his club

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Memphis Depay has watched Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha walk through Barcelona’s doors during the past six months to perhaps indicate his time is up.

Tottenham seemingly want to sign the £17 million star this summer, with Steve Nicol telling ESPN that Xavi would have told him ‘you are better off not being here’. 

Does Depay, who joined Barcelona last summer on a free transfe, push ahead of the above players in the club’s attacking order ahead of the new La Liga season? No.

And he probably doesn’t get ahead of Ferran Torres, nor the recently revitalised Ousmane Dembele.

Either way, Liverpool legend Nicol thinks Depay has been told loud and clear by those in Catalonia that he’s no longer wanted.

“You can only be honest with him,” said Nicol. “Xavi has made it clear that Memphis Depay isn’t in his plans. I am pretty sure Memphis Depay knows this.

“He brings in Aubameyang, it tells Depay that he (Xavi) doesn’t particularly trust me. Now you bring in Lewandowski as well.

“So, Depay should be sitting going ‘right, I just need to find a way out of here. He has made it clear’.

“If I am his coach, then I am saying to him ‘look, I think you can do good things, you can do this and that. But you don’t suit the way I want to play. I’ll try to get you games, but in truth, you are just better off not being here’.

“You have to be honest with a player like that. If you try to be clever, then he can turn around and say ‘well, you lot need money and I am going nowhere’.”

WHAT NEXT FOR DEPAY?

At the age of 28, he has a big call to make on his career because he can’t be sitting on anybody’s bench waiting to earn minutes.

France legend and current Crystal Palace boss, Patrick Vieira, called him a ‘terrific talent’ last summer at Euro 2020 and ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he needs to be ready for Holland.

There’s no doubt that Depay will be selected by Louis van Gaal, but he can’t afford to be half-cooked at that tournament.

It could be argued that he is at the peak of his powers, so this is the World Cup the former Manchester United man will be expected to produce his best of his career.

Either way, with Premier League clubs calling for his signature, it will be interesting if he opts to head back to England after his previous struggles at Old Trafford.