Memphis Depay wants to emulate an Arsenal legend at the World Cup as his club Barcelona look to block a move to Manchester United in January.
Depay is currently out in Qatar with the Netherlands, who face Argentina in the quarter-finals on Friday as they look to win the tournament for the first time ever.
The 28-year-old Barcelona forward faced the media on Thursday and was quizzed about Dutch Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, who arguably scored one of the greatest World Cup goals ever against Argentina in 1998.
Bergkamp is a hero at the Emirates having helped the Gunners win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, scoring 120 goals across 423 games between 1995 and 2006.
‘That was an amazing moment for the whole country of Holland,’ Depay said about Bergkamp’s famous 1998 goal.
‘What a goal. Everyone remembers that one. But of course this game is also going to be won by a moment like that and it would mean so much.
‘We believe we can catch that moment and go through.’
Depay played for United between 2015 and 2017 and largely struggled before being sold to Lyon, where he returned to form and earned a move to Barcelona last year.
He has now been linked with a return to Old Trafford, but former United and Barcelona player Jordi Cruyff, who now works as a sporting advisor for the Catalan club, has hinted that Depay will not be going anywhere in January.
‘You can let a player leave if you get someone else in return. But if you still don’t comply with the Financial Fair Play rules, why would you do it?’ Cruyff told Mundo Deportivo about Depay.
‘That’s no use. As for Memphis, he has always done an excellent job and Xavi will be the first to agree. He always says that Memphis is a player who does not cause problems and always gives the maximum.
‘When he was needed, he was there. We are not busy with outgoing transfers now, but with putting together a strong team for the resumption of the competition.
‘Memphis shows with the national team that he is recovering from his injury and a fit Memphis can be of service to every club.’
Cruyff, did, however, hint that Depay may leave in the summer – with his contract due to expire in June 2023.
‘In the summer we will see how the world stands,’ he added. ‘The reality today is that [Robert] Lewandowski is suspended for three games.
‘Everyone is desperately needed, even the players from whom you might not expect that in September.
‘Football is changeable. It can happen that the top player is not in shape and you are saved by the person you least expected.’
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