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Memphis Depay Instagram fuels exit talk as he deletes Manchester United pictures and unfollows teammates

Depay has deleted all pictures of the club from his Instagram account and unfollowed his United teammates

Jack de Menezes

Sunday 01 May 2016 10:47 BST

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Memphis Depay appears to want out of Manchester United after the out-of-favour winger deleted all pictures of the club from his official Instagram page and unfollowed all of his teammates, sparking speculation that he will push for an Old Trafford exit in the summer just a year after joining the club.

Whether Depay has deliberately changed his Instagram page or his account has been hacked is not known, but Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen suggested that the changes were made by Depay.

McQueen, a self-confessed United fan, wrote on Twitter: “DePIED-off. Hmmm Memphis Depay really has deleted all his Instagram pics of him as a Man Utd player & unfollowed his MUFC teammates.”

Depay has deleted all but one photo and unfollowed his United teammates (Instagram/memphisdepay)

Depay’s debut season at Old Trafford has not been the success that many had predicted when he agreed a four-year deal after completing a £25m move from PSV Eindhoven, with the Netherlands international making just 15 starts in the Premier League and scoring only two goals.

Mark Ogden - Jose Mourinho 'perfect' for Man Utd

United manager Louis van Gaal has been critical of Depay this season and showed a reluctance to deploy him in attack when he was short on forwards, with the former Dutch head coach instead choosing to deploy 18-year-old Marcus Rashford and reaping the rewards on his seven goals in 14 appearances.

Deapy meanwhile has started just one match since mid-march, with the 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on 16 April the only time Van Gaal selected Depay in his starting line-up since the Europa League defeat by Liverpool on 10 March.

Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

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1/10Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Michael Carrick

The Old Trafford career of Manchester United’s second longest-serving player is coming to an end. Last year’s decision to hand him a one-year extension was questionable, this year it would be unjustified. It’s time to call it a day.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

One of the quieter disappointments of Louis van Gaal’s tenure. Rojo has rarely, if ever, put in an above-average performance and cost his team too often. A tournament-inspired signing if ever there was one and likely to go out the door with his manager, who has also disappointed after an eye-catching World Cup.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Memphis Depay

His season has been, to put it in the kindest terms, ‘mercurial’. Brief, perhaps very brief, glimpses at his talent have been outweighed by truly anaemic, gutless performances. His youth should be enough to dissuade the club’s hierarchy from cashing in but Depay will need to show a serious volte-face in his second season to turn his Old Trafford fortunes around.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Juan Mata

In truth, if Jose Mourinho takes over at Old Trafford as expected, there may be little that the Spaniard can do to convince his new manager that he should be kept on. His fate, in that sense, may be sealed. Nevertheless, Mata can hardly claim to have fully established himself at Old Trafford and still has a number of doubters. A few weeks in his preferred no. 10 role could do him a world of good.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Marouane Fellaini

Quite easily the most unpopular man at Old Trafford on any given matchday and this season, that’s saying something. He wants to do well, that’s clear, but he simply does not have the requisite technical quality and tries to make up for it by elbowing people. His time’s up.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Paddy McNair

Alongside Tyler Blackett, McNair provides the stand-out argument against those who uncritically praise Van Gaal’s promotion of youth. Sadly he, nor Blackett, are good enough and should not have been relied upon so much at points during the Dutchman’s first season. In truth, both may have already made their last appearances for United.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

Surprisingly, the young full-back still has not been tied down to a long-term contract, despite his impressive performances since breaking into the side. Talks are understood to have begun but Borthwick-Jackson’s contract expires in June and his future won’t be certain until the dotted line is signed.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Antonio Valencia

His brilliant 2011/12 campaign established him as a firm favourite among supporters but his surrender of the no. 7 shirt the year after marked him as a player who sometimes struggles with a weight of expectation on his shoulders. Ever since, he’s been a figure on the fringes and only on the odd occasions that he’s fit. Sell up before his contract expires next year.

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Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Adnan Januzaj

Packed off on loan to Borussia Dortmund, sent back early after starting just three times and just two substitute appearances since his return. It’s all a far cry from having three football associations fight over your international allegiance. Where Januzaj goes next is unclear but he acts a forewarning to the likes of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford – consistency, not just youthful exuberance, is needed to prosper at United.

Who is playing for their Man Utd future?

Andreas Pereira

The Belgian-born Brazilian has shown his talent at times but, like Januzaj, seems to be another academy product who’s stalling in the reserves while others prosper. He needs with a loan move to gain competitive minutes, perhaps on the continent, or he risks complete stagnation.

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There were suggestions that Depay could look to try and force a move in the summer, although the uncertain future of Van Gaal was likely to see any player facing the exit at the end of the season wait and see the outcome of the managerial confusion at the club. It’s thought that Van Gaal will need to win the FA Cup final – in which they face Crystal Palace – and qualify for next season’s Champions League with a top four finish, something that now looks unlikely following Arsenal’s victory over Norwich on Saturday.

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