Memphis Depay's father pleads with son to end 17-year rift and denies abandoning him

The Manchester United forward had said Dennis left when he was four

Monday 07 September 2015 11:48 BST

Memphis Depay's 'Memphis' No 7 shirt (GETTY IMAGES)

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Memphis Depay's father Dennis has pleaded with his son to end their 17-year rift.

The 21-year-old Manchester United forward prefers to have just 'Memphis' on the back of his shirt as he does not want to use his father's name, after claiming he left the family home when he was four years old.

But Dennis, 50, has insisted he did not abandon Depay and would "love to be back in touch" with the former PSV Eindhoven man.

"He is my son and I love him," he told the Sun. "I am the man who gave him his first ball.

"He was not abandoned by me. I was always there for him.

"I saw him on YouTube talking about his dad, saying he didn’t want to put my name on his back. It made me feel terrible.

"I would love to be back in touch with him. I miss him so much.”

In an interview with the BBC from July, Depay said in relation to his father leaving:

"Those things are a part of my life. It is not a part of football. It is a different thing. I have a life next to football."

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