Memphis Depay’s future at Manchester United was plunged into doubt on Friday night after he was axed from the squad for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
The Holland winger, who has been a major disappointment since his £31million move to Old Trafford from PSV Eindhoven last summer, did not travel down to London with the rest of his team-mates.
Depay has struggled for form and also been criticised over his attitude, with senior players raising their concerns with him.
The 22-year-old has spent an increasing amount of time on the bench and is believed to have been seeking clear-the-air talks with manager Louis van Gaal in recent weeks.
However, Depay has been in every one of United’s squads this season, except for the goalless draw at Crystal Palace in October when he was unfit, so his omission from the Cup Final is still a surprise.
He was informed of Van Gaal’s decision on Thursday after the manager admitted that he faced some tough decisions. ‘I have to select the team and then I have to disappoint players because some of them think that they will play,’ he said.
‘You have to say to a player that he is not invited and he has to come to the stadium. That is not nice. You always tell them individually. It cannot be done in a group.’
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