Arjen Robben Vows to Give Memphis Depay Advice over Manchester United Form

Bayern Munich superstar Arjen Robben has told Netherlands team-mate Memphis Depay he must dig deep and find resolve after his disappointing start to life at Manchester United. 

The winger moved to the Red Devils in the summer but has failed to secure a first-team berth after a string of lacklustre performances. 

However, Robben said he will try and help the youngster through his troubles, as quoted by Laurie Whitwell of MailOnline:

"

Of course I will give him advice. We try to help each other as players and the team to make steps.

He is a talented player in a difficult situation, I can give him advice but the player has to cope with it, show strength and the right mentality.

It is important in your development as a player, it is not always sunshine, you have difficult periods, especially when you are young.

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Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Memphis was signed by United manager Louis van Gaal in a £25 million deal from PSV Eindhoven, according to Whitwell, and was expected to provide the ammunition the Old Trafford giants needed to mount a title challenge. 

Van Gaal's side have comfortably found themselves in the top four of the Premier League, currently two points off leaders Manchester City, but Depay has lost his place in the side to youth product Jesse Lingard. 

Robben had previously tipped his international colleague to become one of the stars of the world game in the years ahead, and said the attacker had chosen well in joining Van Gaal at United, per the Mirror's David McDonnell:

"

I know that there was ­Liverpool and Manchester United ­interested in him, but it was an easy decision for him. There would have been no reason for him to join a club not playing in the Champions League, and Louis van Gaal is one of the best coaches in the world.

Memphis can become the complete player under his ­[Van Gaal's] guidance. It will not be easy, it never is when there are so many new players to settle him, but I think Louis could win the league with Manchester United this year.

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Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Robben moved to the Premier League at a similar age to Memphis and shone for Chelsea as they went on to capture plenty of silverware. 

However, Depay has found life in England taxing, often going missing in games that he is expected to have an impact in. The attacker has started eight games in the Premier League, per WhoScored.com, but has scored just once. 

Memphis has looked slow off the mark—with the ball at feet or in a straight-line sprint—and it appears his weight might have become an issue. The player has since hired a personal chef, as reported by Sky Sports, with Depay commenting:

"

When I stood on the scales first I thought, 'OK, is this correct?' My body is still developing. Now I'm a little heavier. I work a lot on my co-ordination and starting speed.

Since I joined Manchester United, I've gained five kilos.

And that's not fat. Only muscle mass. It's pretty bizarre. It's also due to the heavy rhythm in England. I now weigh 85 kilos.

"

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The technicality with the player's weight has certainly slowed him down, and it has been all too evident at Old Trafford that he is off the pace of games in England. 

Ex-Netherlands international midfielder Youri Mulder recently criticised Memphis, telling Dutch broadcaster NOS (h/t Mark Doyle of Goal): "He played one good match for United, against Club Brugge. In the Premier League he suffers, yet his attitude suggests that he is a big star. It seems that people at Manchester United are starting to get fed up with this." 

Memphis is still young, and it often takes players a year to settle into life at Old Trafford. The pressure is immense at a club as big as United, and the Dutchman will not have experienced anything like this at PSV.

Robben is an excellent role model for the winger; he has maintained an excellent level of consistent form throughout his playing career, and Memphis should attempt to mimic this quality. 

Depay is a supremely talented youngster, and if he can correct the shortcomings of his application on the pitch, he will find his stock will soon rise again in the north-west.