Memphis Depay Denies Claims Ryan Giggs Warned Him over 'Party Boy' Lifestyle

Manchester United forward Memphis Depay has rubbished suggestions that assistant manager and club legend Ryan Giggs had to verbally warn him regarding his lifestyle.

According to FourFourTwo, he told Sjoerd Mossou of Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad:

"

The funny thing is, since I came to England, I've only been out one time. One time! But recently I read that [Giggs] has accosted me about my reputation as a "party-boy" and stuff. It's total nonsense! Completely made up!

Often I think: "Just let me do this. Let me wear the clothes I want to wear." Why is everyone making such a big deal out of that? What is this all about? Just let me. I'm also just a 21-year-old boy.

Why should I adjust? Some people collect stamps; I like fashion, discovering nice new things. I feel good about doing that. If I were to put on what you wanted me to put on, I wouldn't be myself anymore.

"

According to Mossou (h/t ESPN FC) he added that he was enjoying training and maintained a good relationship with Giggs:

"I think every young player goes through things but I keep training and enjoy the training sessions. The stuff has stuck with me and [Giggs] has given me good advice and I've been working on some things with him."

Jon Super/Associated Press

Memphis arrived with a big price tag and a reputation to match, having enjoyed an exceptional 2014-15 with PSV Eindhoven in which he scored 28 goals and assisted a further eight in 40 appearances.

The Dutchman took over United's iconic No. 7 shirt but has struggled to have a similar impact at Old Trafford and has thus far accrued five goals and four assists in all competitions.

As former Premier League footballer Fabrice Muamba noted, Memphis had an underwhelming start to life at United:

Indeed, according to Squawka, Memphis has created just seven chances in the Premier League this season, ensuring he will almost certainly finish the season well short of the 60 he made in the Eredivisie last term.

However, the 21-year-old has made some improvement of late.

Football writer Liam Canning and Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News praised the youngster's contribution in the draw with West Ham United earlier in December:

That impressive cameo came two weeks after he scored a vital goal against Watford in the Red Devils' 2-1 win, and he also garnered further praise from Luckhurst in the recent defeat to Bournemouth:

It's important to remember Memphis is a fairly young player and that adapting to a new country and new surroundings—particularly with the pressures that come with playing at Old Trafford—does take time.

Not to mention he's also likely hampered by manager Louis van Gaal's stifling and tedious style that has seen the team struggle greatly for goals.

United fans will welcome news of his positive attitude toward training, and when the side is back on the right track in the final third, Memphis will most likely continue to develop his contributions to the team.