Memphis Depay: I can be world’s best

Memphis Depay has set himself the ambition to become the best player in the world during his time at Manchester United.

The 21-year-old penned a deal to move from PSV Eindhoven to Old Trafford when the transfer window opens in July and the Holland ace has lofty ambitions of what he wants to achieve in the Premier League.

Depay, who has scored 25 goals this season, has a tattoo emblazoned on his chest that reads “dream chaser” and he is setting out to achieve even more in his early career.

“‘Dream chaser’ stands for me chasing my dreams,” he said.

“I believe I can be one of the best players in the world and I have to dream and believe to achieve. It is tattooed on my chest.

“You just have to work every day on your dreams. My dreams started with going to the World Cup and then when I was there I scored two goals — becoming the youngest ever Dutch goalscorer — and I was very happy. But when the World Cup was finished I realised that was not it. I had to take more on to the pitch — there was more to do.

“So after the World Cup in pre-season I spoke to my manager and said I have to keep focused. Scoring in the World Cup was good but not the end of it. Now I am on fire.”

Depay opted to remain in the Eredivisie last summer despite plenty of interest following those World Cup goals against Australia and Chile.

He revealed his former Holland coach and future United boss Louis van Gaal told him to keep improving on his game before he made a move for the forward — fending off reported interest from Paris St Germain and Liverpool.

“He is different,” Depay said of Van Gaal.

“His performance on the training ground is different from other trainers. After the World Cup he told me to stay hungry and I told myself to stay hungry. When I made the decision to stay I wanted to be champion and top scorer. I set those goals and I hope to achieve them. It will be great to have an opportunity to train with him and work with him. Of course I am looking forward.

“I want to improve myself but Dutch players have played also in the Premier League and I spoke with many of them. I believe I can be a big player in the Premier League — I showed my ability in the World Cup. I am very excited. I was always reading about the Premier League. It has been a big dream and one that came true. But it is not the end of the dream, it is just starting.”

Depay is the first summer signing for United as they look to build on the squad which has all but sealed a return to Champions League football.

Meanwhile, United’s executive vice chairman Ed Woodward is likely to shed some light on Van Gaal’s spending plans today.

United will announce their third quarterly results at noon and Woodward will then take part in a conference call with investors when the subject of summer spending is likely to be raised.

One man who has failed to live up to his reputation at Old Trafford is Colombian star Radamel Falcao. Falcao arrived on loan from Monaco with a huge reputation but has struggled to find form, making just 28 appearances, 12 of them from the bench, and scoring just four goals. All the indications are that United boss Louis van Gaal will not exercise an option to complete a permanent deal.

And the Colombian’s mother has admitted her son is hoping for “bigger and better things” after a desperately difficult season at Manchester United.

Falcao’s mother Carmenza Zarate told Colombian newspaper El Espectador: “Not everything has been easy in Falcao’s life. He has had some difficult moments in his career. They slowed his progress and prevented him from participating in important competitions like the World Cup, or have confined him to the bench, like in Manchester.”