PSV Eindhoven: Memphis Depay Going Places While Zakaria Bakkali Exiled

PSV Eindhoven's Dutch left-forward Memphis Depay, 21, once a problematic prospect, has matured into an Eredivisie star aspiring to take over the footballing world.

Memphis will yield PSV Eindhoven a substantial transfer fee, while his team-mate Zakaria Bakkali, 19, a Belgian right-forward, is counting down the days of his expiring contract.

"Started from the bottom, now we're here." — Drake

"We have had a telephone call from [Manchester United] about [Memphis]," PSV Eindhoven technical director Marcel Brands said, per Sky Sports. "But no talks have been held yet. There are several top clubs [that] have expressed an interest. [Memphis] will be very expensive."

Barcelona and Manchester United are the two heavyweight European clubs that have routinely acquired PSV Eindhoven talents.

Ruud van Nistelrooy | PSV Eindhoven → Manchester United: €30.4/£19 million (2001; 25 years old).

Jaap Stam | PSV Eindhoven → Manchester United: €17/£11.1 million (1998; 25 years old).

Ronaldo Luis | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: €15/£12.3 million (1996; 19 years old).

Romario | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: €12/£9.3 million (1993; 27 years old).

Boudewijn Zenden | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: €12/£7.8 million (1998; 21 years old).

Park Ji Sung | PSV Eindhoven → Manchester United: €6/£4.1 million (2005; 24 years old).

Ronald Koeman | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: €5.7/£3.9 million (1989; 26 years old).

Ibrahim Afellay | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: €3/£2.6 million (2011; 24 years old).

Mark van Bommel | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: Free transfer (2005; 28 years old).

Phillip Cocu | PSV Eindhoven → Barcelona: Free transfer (1998; 27 years old).

Neymar plays in the same position as Memphis and Barcelona are banned from registering new players until January 2016, so there is a clear path to Manchester United.

• Memphis is an upgrade over Ashley Young.
• Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal gave Memphis the chance to play in four FIFA World Cup games for the Netherlands.
• PSV Eindhoven have no problems selling their stars to Manchester United, so as long as Naughty By Nature's "Here Comes The Money" is blaring in the background once the contracts have been signed.

Before featuring at the FIFA World Cup, starring for PSV Eindhoven and being mentioned in the same sentence as Super Bowl winning quarter-back Tom Brady, NBA all-star Steph Curry and Masters winner Jordan Spieth as a face of Under Armour, there were question marks over Memphis.

An absent father burdened the life of Memphis' mother with undesired pressure.

The feelings of bitterness toward being abandoned by the man of the house explains why Memphis is uncomfortable with references to Depay, per Hugo Borst's book O, Louis: In Search of Louis van Gaal: "As far as [Memphis] is concerned, his father no longer exists. [That's] why he no longer wants to play in a shirt that bears his Ghanaian surname. The name is Memphis, not Depay."

No father, up stepped the grandfather, but his death left a void in Memphis' life, per The Telegraph.

"I had a great relationship with my grandfather," Memphis said, per Copa90. "I've had words tattooed on my arm for my grandfather."

Chastised by then-PSV Eindhoven youth manager Henk Fraser, Memphis threatened to walk away from the club, only to be dissuaded by mentor Joost Leenders, per Michael Bell at Football Oranje.

"The mother of Memphis [told] PSV Eindhoven 'my boy has difficulties around him, so I want someone to help him'," Leenders said, per Adidas football. "In the first years, I was only his life coach. For the last few years, I'm his life coach and also a friend."

"The more [Leenders] helped me, the more I bonded with him and [yes, I] put my trust in him. I don't do that easily," Memphis said, per Adidas football. "I'll be honest, without him, I may not be sitting here [today]."

Overcoming a psychologically screwed up childhood, Memphis was still finding himself and creating an identity he was comfortable with.

Memphis struggled balancing a football career in its embryonic stages with his aspirations to be a rapper.

"You can't abandon your training duties because you have to perform at a rap concert," then-PSV Eindhoven manager Fred Rutten said, per Christopher Atkins at ESPN FC. "It's not smart to bet on two horses. Memphis has to choose between rap and football."

Memphis should have let knowledge drop, informing Rutten of Roy Jones Jr, the greatest boxer of the 1990s, who once played a semi-professional basketball game and then defended his world title seven hours later—his other passion was rapping.

Memphis yearned to expand his horizons. 

PSV Eindhoven demanded Memphis eat, breathe and sleep football.

Then-PSV Eindhoven manager Dick Advocaat left Memphis on the bench eight times in a 15-game run during the 2012/13 Eredivisie season.

When In Bed With Maradona compiled a list of the 100 finest young players in 2013 born on or after January 1, 1991, Memphis failed to make the cut.

Dries Mertens leaving for Napoli and Cocu being re-instated as PSV Eindhoven manager provided the foundations for Memphis to establish himself in the starting 11.

Leading the Eredivisie in goals this season (21) and flashing Cristiano Ronaldo-like moments, what is the main factor in Memphis' resurgence?

Hard work, dedication.

"I've noticed that [Memphis] has even more potential than I first thought now that I'm working with him," Dutch national team manager Guus Hiddink said, per Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (h/t Sky Sports). "He is incredibly interested and keen to learn."

"I'm not afraid of [Memphis] losing his head. His drive is huge. I like him a lot," PSV Eindhoven team-mate Stijn Schaars said, per Helden Online (h/t Jonathan Fadugba at FourFourTwo). "He's doing everything to reach the top."

Cocu is already bracing himself for Memphis' inevitable departure in the summer transfer window.

"I think [Memphis] is ready for the next step and I think that he will leave," Cocu said, per Voetbal International (h/t Samuel Luckhurst at the Manchester Evening News). "We [will] take it into account in any case."

Erstwhile PSV Eindhoven Wunderkind

Receiving a pass from Jurgen Locadia, Bakkali faked to cut inside, accelerated to the outside of Rens van Eijden, and laced a left-footed bullet, which careened off the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Memphis embraced Bakkali in jubilant celebration.

It was one of Bakkali's three goals in a 5-0 Eredivisie win over NEC Nijmegen.

August 10, 2013—the first and last time Memphis was outshone by Bakkali in a PSV Eindhoven shirt.

• Then: Emerging 17-year-old soon-to-be superstar.
• Now: Forgotten 19-year-old prospect ex-communicated from PSV Eindhoven.

Working against the Jean-Marc Bosman ruling, PSV Eindhoven protect their investment in players with high transfer stocks by being proactive in contract negotiations.

"We've worked hard for one year behind the scenes to keep Memphis," Brands said after extending the contract of Memphis to 2018, per PSV's official website. "The budget that was available for to bring in another winger has now been used to keep Memphis at PSV Eindhoven."

Unlike Memphis, Bakkali is holding out.

"We have given [Bakkali] a good proposal and showed him a good view on the future. We won't do anything more," Brands said, per Voetbal International (h/t Gerrit van Leeuwen at Sky Sports). "It is yes or no."

In turn, Bakkali made a call believing his potential acted as leverage, which would force PSV Eindhoven to fold, but Brands was not bluffing.

"I don't know anyone who lives for football more than Zakaria," Bakkali's agent Marcel Veerman said, per Scott McDermott at the Daily Record. "Money is not the motive for him. He wants to leave PSV Eindhoven because of sporting reasons."

PSV Eindhoven acknowledged the "interest of Celtic" during the January transfer window, per STV.

However, Bakkali rejected Celtic, so he could rehabilitate from hip surgery, per Eindhoven Dagblad (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje).

It has been over a year since Bakkali last played an Eredivisie game.

PSV Eindhoven ruthlessly banishing Bakkali is a warning to any prospect who thinks he can strong-arm the club in negotiations. 

What made the harsh decision from PSV Eindhoven easier to comprehend was their coaching staff have reservations on Bakkali, who has "bad seeds in his entourage," per Jannick Lanckriet at In Bed with Maradona.

If Bakkali extended his contract at PSV Eindhoven, you assume he would have been switched from the right to the left flank, therefore preparing him to be Memphis' heir apparent. 

Where was Bakkali's version of Leenders during this contractual wrangle?

This summer, Bakkali will prematurely exit PSV Eindhoven out the back door and is headed down a Zakaria Labyad-like path.

Whereas Memphis will leave PSV Eindhoven living up to the message emblazoned on his chest—dream chaser. 

+allanjiang.

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