PSV Eindhoven

Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben could become the latest Dutch star to return to the Eredivisie, as PSV coach Mark van Bommel and general manager Toon Gerbrands have both confirmed there has been contact between the club and player. 

As reported by Football Oranje Van Bommel faced the press on Friday and said he and Robben talk regularly: "You should not find anything crazy, we also have contact that it is colder in Munich than here. I have played with Arjen at PSV, Oranje and Bayern Munchen, and so we call and message now and again, he is going to think about my question, he certainly adds value, Arjen is still European top."

One day earlier Gerbrands told Oproep Brabant (h/t Football Oranje) Van Bommel had reached out: "There has been contact. Mark, who played with Arjen, sent him a message. It is, of course, up to Arjen to make the decision."

The 34-year-old Robben revealed he'll leave longtime club Bayern at the end of this season earlier this month, as shared by Goal's Ronan Murphy:

Arjen Robben confirms that he will leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season, telling Omnisport: 'This is my last season at Bayern. I had 10 wonderful years. Now it's time.' #FCBayern

— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) December 2, 2018

He later said he's not sure whether he'll continue playing and he will retire unless the right offer is available:

Will Robben retire after leaving Bayern Munich this summer? 🤔

Full story: https://t.co/jbiIDSjijk pic.twitter.com/bnbLFAbatT

— GOAL (@goal) December 10, 2018

Robben starred for Groningen and PSV before moving abroad, finding some success at Chelsea and Real Madrid. He joined Bayern in 2009 and emerged as a truly elite winger in Germany.

Should he decide to return to the Netherlands he would continue a recent trend of former internationals returning to their roots.

Robin van Persie, who previously played for Arsenal, Manchester United and Fenerbahce, has found great success since returning to Feyenoord. The 35-year-old moved back to Rotterdam in January and immediately started scoring at an impressive rate.

Here is a look at some of his goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im9SlosL5cE

Klaas-Jan Hunterlaar also made the move back to the Netherlands, joining Ajax in 2017 after a long stint with FC Schalke 04.

Robben has started seven Bundesliga matches for Bayern this season, scoring three goals. He's added two to his tally in the UEFA Champions League in the form of a brace in his last outing against Benfica.

Hirving Lozano has completed his move from Pachuca to PSV Eindhoven, it was confirmed Monday.

News that the transfer had gone through came via PSV's official Twitter feed, with the 21-year-old signing a six-year deal at the Philips Stadion:

pic.twitter.com/09NxdIBGal

— PSV (@PSV) June 19, 2017

The Mexico international may not be a household name for fans of European football, but he has developed a reputation as one of his nation's most exciting prospects for many years.

Here's a look at what he can offer:

Lozano has been utilised across the front line in the early stages of his career and is a thrilling footballer to watch.

The El Tri international is clever at finding space, sharp on the turn and always seeking to drive forward when in possession. Additionally, Lozano regularly makes the most of his good work in the final third. 

As noted by the Scouted Football Twitter account, despite his tender years, he's happy to take responsibility in attack:

Talismanic forward Hirving Lozano is in the starting lineup for Pachuca. Undoubtedly the biggest threat going forward for the home side. pic.twitter.com/amPSn6Jft6

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) April 27, 2017

The challenge for the youngster after this move will be adapting his game to the Eredivisie, having become acclimatised to Liga MX early in his career.

Lozano is not a player to shirk physical battles, and he can often avoid being bullied off the ball thanks to his quick feet. Still, for PSV, he will need to retune to a more robust and quicker tempo of football.

The signs are that he can, and provided he receives regular football under Phillip Cocu, he has the kind of temperament needed to make steady progress. If he can preserve that raw, unpredictable edge in line with that development, it's tough to see him being anything other than a big hit with PSV. 

PSV Eindhoven grabbed the 2015-16 Eredivisie title on the final matchday of the season, defending their crown in dramatic fashion by beating PEC Zwolle 3-1 on Sunday. Rivals Ajax only managed a draw at De Graafschap, handing PSV the title. 

Ajax were among the first to congratulate the champions via Twitter:

https://twitter.com/AFCAjax_EN/status/729316675703734273

Here's a look at PSV's celebrations, via their official Twitter account:

PSV toont de schaal aan de meegereisde fans. We zijn kampioen! pic.twitter.com/xm0L0vg6i6

— PSV (@PSV) May 8, 2016

The two teams were tied on points entering the final matchday, with Ajax holding the advantage in goal difference. The Amsterdam team were expected to cruise to a win against De Graafschap, who will enter the relegation play-off, but Bryan Smeets scored a crucial second-half equaliser, and the hosts held on for dear life.

Luuk de Jong scored twice for PSV, who beat PEC Zwolle 3-1 to win their second title in a row and 23rd in the club's history.

Fox Sports NL shared the final minutes of both matches:

Ajax started the season as the slight favourites for the title, as star winger Memphis Depay, who led PSV in goals last year, left for Manchester United. The Farmers finished the 2014-15 campaign with an enormous lead in the standings, but Ajax looked much improved at the start of the campaign.

They kicked off in good form and led by three points at the midway point of the campaign, but PSV were never far behind. Ajax opened the door for their rivals with a 2-2 draw against Utrecht on Matchday 31, and while the team didn't drop a single point in the following weeks, the final match of the season made the difference.

OutsideoftheBoot.com noted this interesting statistic:

Interestingly it's PSV's 23rd league title and the 23rd time Ajax have finished as runners-up.

— Outside of the Boot (@OOTB_football) May 8, 2016

Losing the title like this is a major blow for a young Ajax team that fields a number of young prospects who may leave the club during the summer. The likes of Riechedly Bazoer, Anwar El Ghazi and Ricardo van Rhijn could all be courted by top European clubs—as may manager Frank de Boer, who hinted at a move to the Premier League last year, per BBC World Service (h/t Daily Telegraph's Chris Bascombe).

PSV coach Phillip Cocu did a fantastic job rebuilding the squad's attack after the loss of Memphis and Georginio Wijnaldum, who moved to Newcastle United, and he too could be a wanted man during the summer. 

They will have to keep hold of De Jong and perhaps bring Maxime Lestienne to the club on a permanent deal to ensure a successful summer, but given the young age of the squad, they should enter next season as the favourites to win their third title in a row.

Follow @ReverschPass

Fantasy five-a-side teams give footballers the world over the opportunity to select themselves to play alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Jetro Willems had other ideas. "I would pick myself in any case, obviously", he told UEFA.tv. "Five times myself."

Yes, that's right. The PSV Eindhoven left-back ignored the world's greatest stars (and even some of its mediocre ones) to select himself five times.

Here's how we think they might line up:

"Believe me, you would win the Champions League with that side," he said.

We'll have to take his word for it.

[YouTube: UEFA.tv]

PSV Eindhoven defender Joshua Brenet has revealed he fancies his chances of going up against Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in the UEFA Champions League.

The Dutch champions secured their spot in the knockout rounds of the competition after a thrilling evening on Tuesday, beating CSKA Moscow 2-1 to qualify at the expense of Manchester United, who were beaten 3-2 by Wolfsburg. After progressing, Brenet suggested this team is capable of big things and taking on some stellar opponents.

“Every club is wonderful, but I'm a fan of Barcelona,” he conceded per ANP (h/t FourFourTwo). “It would be nice to play against them, whether it's this round, the next round or in the final. We will eat Messi, Suarez and Neymar alive.”

With Barcelona already secure in their place in the last 16 of the competition after winning their group, there is a chance they could be drawn against PSV, who were second in theirs. And after beating the likes of CSKA and United at the Philips Stadion in the competition already, it’s certainly not a venue teams will relish visiting.

Nevertheless, it seems as though Brenet’s comments about the Barcelona attacking three, who fired the Blaugrana to glory in this competition last year, are a little tongue in cheek.

As we can see here courtesy of BreatheSport, throughout the course of the calendar year the trio have been in magnificent form:

In 2015: Messi: 44 goals, 21 assists Suarez: 40 goals, 22 assists Neymar: 41 goals, 12 assists Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/WqAHEqmyPi

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) November 28, 2015

Messi’s return from a two-month injury layoff has helped the Blaugrana push on even more in recent weeks, even if they did drop points late on against Valencia in their last Liga encounter. Indeed, their previous Champions League game, against Roma, saw the Argentina man, Suarez and Neymar link up in sensational style.

One of the goals they scored in that 6-1 triumph saw all three players combine tremendously, per BT Sport Football:

Messi scores twice on his return to @FCBarcelona's starting XI, rounding off a fine move for his first! #UCL https://t.co/jqLSiiW4kS

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 25, 2015

You have to admire Brenet’s confidence; it’s a bullishness that is indicative of this PSV group, who have enjoyed tremendous success over the past couple of seasons. Plus, being in the Champions League is all about testing yourself against the very best opponents in the game, and at the moment, Barcelona are the team to beat in the competition.

As aforementioned, the Philips Stadion is a difficult venue to play at, with the home supporters creating a raucous din. However, should these two meet in the last 16, you’d expect Barcelona to come out on top and the likes of Messi, Neymar and Suarez to thrive in what’d be a partisan atmosphere; the battle between right-back Brenet and Barcelona left winger Neymar would certainly be one to keep a close eye on.

PSV Eindhoven have gotten their Champions League journey off to a strong start against Manchester United on Tuesday, but an injury to Andres Guardado put a slight damper on the proceedings.

Continue for updates.

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Guardado to Miss Six Weeks

Thursday, Sept. 17

Eindhovens Degblad reported, per MLSSoccer.com, that Guardado will miss the CONCACAF match between Mexico and the U.S. on OCt. 10.

According to Sports Illustrated's Planet Futbol, the Mexican midfielder suffered an ankle injury. The 28-year-old was replaced by Stijn Schaars. Tom Marshall of ESPN FC added that the issue looks to be somewhat serious:  

Guardado not looking great on the touchline. Left ankle heavily bandaged up. Will see how long he is out. Hopefully back in time for US game

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) September 15, 2015

While Guardado will obviously play a role in PSV's Eredivisie title defense and trek through the Champions League, Mexico also has to be concerned with their captain being forced to sit out the upcoming match with the USMNT.

Guardado was by far El Tri's best player at the Gold Cup, taking home the tournament's Golden Ball Award. His creativity and attacking verve were particularly important for Mexico given their struggles in the final third.

Mexico are stronger than the U.S. in terms of personnel. But with Guardado out of the equation, the gulf lessens a bit.

As a player, Phillip Cocu took his time to reach his full, glorious potential; he took his time to just settle on his preferred position and certainly took his time before gracing one of the biggest clubs in the world.

As a manager, well, only time will tell whether his path ends up treading a familiar route. After a false start and a couple of detours along the way, Cocu has this season turned the club perhaps closest to his heart, PSV Eindhoven, into Dutch champions—for the first time in seven years.

As a player, a combative midfielder with an eye for a pass and a goal or two, Cocu helped PSV to similar glory in two spells with the Eredivisie side. In the interim, he ventured to Spain and Barcelona, where he would become the club’s most capped foreign player—at least until a young Argentinian called Lionel Messi came along.

Great players do not always become great coaches, but the early signs are that Cocu, 44, may well have what it takes to make the grade. Beloved by Barcelona as a player, the question now is whether he will soon be coveted by them as a manager too.

There always seems to be a next big thing emerging in Dutch football, but with every recipient of the tag, the only guarantee is that the individual in question will not hold it for too long.

That is not just because there is always another promising prospect coming through—although that increasingly is the case—but also because individuals feted in such a way invariably end up pursuing their ambitions in richer, larger European leagues.

That transition is not always successful—for every Ruud van Nistelrooy there is an Afonso Alves—but the strike rate is usually pretty good. Liverpool certainly struck gold when they lured Luis Suarez from Ajax in 2011, while Manchester United will be hoping they have been similarly prescient with their capture of PSV’s Memphis Depay.

The Netherlands is not only regarded as a hotbed of footballing talent but a cradle for tactical insight, a reputation fostered in part by Rinus Michels and then Johan Cruyff, two men who helped evolve the game significantly with their coaching methods and general perception of how it should be played.

Over the past two decades, Dutch coaches, like Dutch players, have traveled throughout Europe and the rest of the world imparting their wisdom, from Louis van Gaal and Guus Hiddink to Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman.

The managerial merry-go-round is even more unpredictable than the playing one, however, with reputations rising and failing with often unpredictable haste.

In the last few seasons, Ajax manager Frank de Boer has been linked with some of the biggest jobs in Europe—Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, to name but two—thanks primarily to his run of four successive Eredivisie titles. This summer, however, his name has been featured less heavily, presumably because Ajax failed to win the title.

They were pipped by a Memphis-inspired PSV, a dominant victory that has made Cocu, the mastermind of it all, the feted man of the Eredivisie.

With a title under his belt to go with a previously won Dutch Cup, a history of working with younger players and a strong CV as a player, Cocu seems to possess all the basic qualities desired of the modern big-club manager. It did not take long for another side to steal away Memphis, the jewel in PSV’s crown. When might they also come in for the manager, and what might it take to lure him away?

A Player of Quality

As a player, Cocu was a combative midfielder with few equals. His versatility was perhaps his biggest strength, something he was always happy to accept: “The only positions I've not played in [are] goalkeeper and right-back.”

Heavily left-footed, Cocu was often the calming presence for both club and country, the one who stuck a foot in to win possession and retained his side’s positional structure as those around him were released to play with greater attacking freedom.

“Cocu's a great passer, has a good shot and could almost be another Bryan Robson,” former Manchester United boss Ron Atkinson told the Guardian in 2001, tipping the Dutchman as a player his old club should try to sign. “He may not be quite so prolific a goalscorer, but he's tremendous in the air arriving in the box and has a lot of those ingredients.

“He's more than capable of contesting midfield and is so versatile that he can not only fill virtually any position but play it as a world player.”

The intelligence Atkinson spotted was always a feature of his game. Born in Eindhoven in 1970, Cocu’s family left the city for Alkmaar when he was a toddler. His first experiences of organized football came with De Graafschap before he ultimately signed terms with AZ as a 16-year-old.

He was a winger at this point in his career—indeed, a left-footed tyro who lifted the crowd with his technique and attacking flair. After two seasons at the club, he joined Vitesse Arnhem, where, after overcoming a broken leg early in his stay, he would slowly convert to a more central role.

He would also begin to garner international attention, narrowly missing out on Dick Advocaat’s squad for the 1994 World Cup at the age of 23. "I thought it was great that Advocaat had me on his list of the first 25 [players],” Cocu later reflected to Trouw. “Too bad I just didn’t make it. But I was still young [and would have another chance].”

In the end, he would have to wait another two years to make his international debut.

At 24, he finally returned to Eindhoven after PSV met the release clause in his contract. Feyenoord met the clause as well, but Cocu’s mind was long since made up. He duly helped PSV to cup success in 1996 before the Rood-witten lifted the league title 12 months later.

Cocu was a player of greater ambition, however, and in 1998, he allowed his contract with PSV to expire. By this time an established Netherlands international, he attracted interest from around Europe. Barcelona eventually beat out the likes of Real Madrid, Lazio and Inter Milan to secure his signature.

Cocu had cheered for Barcelona as a boy—at that time, they were a club with a heavy Dutch influence—so joining the Blaugrana was something of a dream for the midfielder. He would make the most of it, playing 292 games for the club over the course of six seasons to make the most appearances by a foreign player in its history.

Since then only two non-Spaniards have beaten Cocu’s mark: Messi and full-back Dani Alves, reported by Barca's official website.

In 2004, at the age of 33, Cocu returned to PSV for a final three-year spell at the club, adding three successive league titles and one Dutch cup to his collection. During that period, the club also reached the Champions League semi-finals, only to be denied by AC Milan. In a 3-3 aggregate draw—Milan progressed on away goals—Cocu scored twice.

After a one-season, presumably money-spinning, stay at Middle East side Al Jazira, Cocu retired in 2008 and immediately turned his attention to coaching.

First Forays into Coaching

If backroom coaching jobs are the footballing equivalent of summer internships prior to finally getting on that graduate scheme in the city, then Cocu’s list of experiences is something to behold. Since retiring as a footballer, he has worked under Bert van Marwijk, Huub Stevens and Dick Advocaat, learning from the best with both the Netherlands national team and PSV.

His first taste of actual management came in March 2012, when he was appointed caretaker manager at PSV following the dismissal of Fred Rutten. Cocu’s initial impact was underwhelming, although the club did win their final five games of the season and lifted the KNVB Cup.

Nevertheless, the club opted to appoint a familiar face, Dick Advocaat, in the summer, with Cocu—perhaps considered too raw for the top job at that time—deciding to ditch his assistant role with the national team and focus exclusively on managing PSV’s under-19 squad.

This was an astute move from both club and coach. With PSV having realised, as almost all Dutch clubs now have, that focusing on producing their own players is the only way to survive and thrive, Cocu was suddenly perfectly placed to succeed Advocaat when he departed. When Advocaat left the club after a disappointing season, Cocu was finally handed the reins on a permanent basis.

Cocu immediately set about overhauling the squad, changing the profile of a club that had allowed itself to slip some way off the pace of Ajax, a club that made its famous Toekomst academy the central tenet of its footballing identity. The new coach promised that the club would again contend for the Eredivisie but that there might be some growing pains to endure first.

"We are going to build a new team,” Cocu said, relayed by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN FC). “There will be changes in the squad. PSV will always go for the title but there is time enough.”

He added: "I am someone who likes to learn step by step and don't want to go too fast. I also think you're never too old to learn.

"I'm ready to take this step. It is a long-term thing but I am someone who, if he start something, wants to do well." 

They seemed like the words of a man keen to dampen expectations, to reduce pressure, but they proved to be a precise analysis of how he saw the future. Having promoted young winger Memphis Depay to the first team during his intermediary spell in charge, Cocu set his stall out from the start to build his new squad around the young players the club was producing—players he had learned a lot about over the previous 12 months.

When PSV emerged for the start of the 2013/14 season, the team's average age was well below 23—not necessarily remarkable for the Eredivisie but a significant shift for the club itself.

Initially, results were good, with the club going seven games unbeaten to start the season, and Cocu’s tenure, in perfect fashion. But then came a run of losses that sparked fears about the new adventure.

"Crisis? panic? You could also say that they are growing pains," PSV’s sporting director, Marcel Brands, told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad (via FourFourTwo). "We knew at the time [of appointing Cocu, setbacks could happen], but not when the first setback would come. In July and August we performed just above expectations.

"You know a relapse in this process is logical with a completely new team. As management and staff we were already prepared."

That faith was important for Cocu, because things were to get worse before they get better. At one point, midway through the season, PSV slipped to 10th in the 18-team table before a strong finish to the campaign saw the side eventually finish fourth, securing a Europa League spot. It was a learning experience for all concerned, although Cocu was also going through something much tougher.

Health Scare Alters Perspective

Midway through that season, a routine medical scan revealed a sizeable lump on Cocu’s back, near his spine. Doctors were immediately worried; they did not know if the lump was cancerous, but if it was, the chances were reasonable that it had already spread.

"I had sometimes vague complaints, problems with my back after beach football, or I felt a strange stiffness if I had played football with my friends in the team room,” Cocu told Helden Magazine in a rare interview.

He kept putting off getting it checked out: “After the scan I was told that there was probably a tumor in my back. I was still quite sober until I saw the photos themselves from the MRIs.

“For a long time I was still optimistic, perhaps against their better judgement.”

Cocu only told his team two days before he underwent surgery at the end of March, passing control of the squad to his assistant, Ernest Faber, for the remainder of the campaign. Surgery went successfully, and subsequent tests showed the lump was not malignant, giving Cocu the all clear.

He returned to the club in time for the start of pre-season training ahead of the new campaign.

"Mentally I was pretty fast to recover, and I always believed that it would be okay, that from the start of the new season I could immediately return and do my job,” Cocu added. “But when I got the green light in September, it did feel very liberating. I feel that I can do everything again. My body has finally returned to normal."

After that scare, the 2014/15 season saw the realisation of Cocu’s vision. A squad based on the pace and attacking threat of Memphis Depay, the midfield skill of Georginio Wijnaldum and the defensive resilience of Karim Rekik and Jeffrey Bruma was always going to be well-equipped for the Eredivisie, although the loan signing of Andres Guardado—an experienced professional, a converted winger with a bit of bite about his play in the middle of the park—underlined the nuanced understanding of his squad Cocu had.

The Mexican added an extra balance to the side that was missing, making them an irresistible force.

Third in the table after the opening round of the campaign, PSV moved into top spot after their second game and never relinquished the spot. They won emphatically in some games, ground out victories in others—the mark, some would say, of a well-drilled side. By the end of the season, they finished a mammoth 17 points ahead of closest rivals Ajax, having been 12 points adrift of them just 12 months earlier.

It was as emphatic a turnaround as has been seen in recent years.

"This is great, to celebrate the title today at home," Cocu said, per UEFA. "My players really deserved this. We had a clear goal and we achieved it. We worked for this all year and now today we can feel it for real.

“These are the moments you do it for. This is a title the whole club has been longing for for quite some time."

The subsequent transfer of Memphis to Manchester United, and his status as the league’s top scorer, may suggest that victory was built on the brilliance of one player, but perhaps the player’s emergence was just the most obvious example of a long-term project coming to fruition.

"I've learned so much at PSV, not only on the pitch but also as a person," Depay said after his final game for the club, per the Daily Telegraph. "I’m proud of winning the title with PSV. It’s something the fans deserved, and something I wanted so bad as well.

"I wish the club all the best for coming season, and hopefully they’re lifting a trophy again next year."

Depay’s departure, however, has led many to fear the end result of PSV’s success: the sale of all their most talented products. Brands said of the deal, per CNN:

We are very proud of this upcoming transfer. Memphis has gone through all the teams of the PSV youth academy and has played an important part in the national title this year.

He's a wonderful exponent of our training and will make a nice transition to a magnificent club in a beautiful competition. Regarding sports, we lose obviously a fantastic player, which is of great value to the team. But very happily PSV grants him these wonderful step.

Other players may follow, but then other players are coming through. The question now, perhaps, is when will it be Cocu for whom a big club comes knocking?

The Future?

It seems almost certain that Cocu will be linked with another European club before too long, just as his “good friend” De Boer has been recently. Ronald Koeman, managing Feyenoord last season, showed the transition Dutch managers can make with his impressive first season at Southampton. It is just a matter of where Cocu sees his future.

As a player, Cocu never really fancied the opportunities he had to go to England or Italy.

“If the trainer wants me, it is clear. I stay,” Cocu said, per Sky Sports back in 2000, when his Barcelona contract was on the verge of expiring and Arsenal were rumoured to be interested.

"I rejected several English offers after the European Championships.

"It is true that the club has not made any moves to renew my contract but I am not in a hurry. I like Spanish soccer. It is more fun than, for example, the Italian league."

If that opinion still holds, then it would seem Spain would again be his most likely landing spot—though the money on offer in the Premier League may now be a persuasive factor.

The obvious answer, perhaps too obvious, is Barcelona. He played for the club, he retains contacts there, and widespread reports suggest the club tried to lure him to manage the B team back in 2011, a post that has proved to be a fast track to the top job in the last decade.

Having sat in the stands at Camp Nou once already this season, mere metres from the club president, is it really too much of a leap to speculate that Cocu is on whatever managerial shortlist the club may have already drafted?

The failed tenure of Gerardo Martino aside—an appointment, it would seem, driven by the personal desires of Lionel Messi—over the past decade, Barca have always tried to appoint coaches with a pre-existing history with the club over and above any achievements they might have accomplished elsewhere.

Cocu may have opted not to manage Barcelona B, but he has proved his credentials nonetheless. If Luis Enrique leaves this summer—and it remains a big if, especially with a treble on the cards—it would not be that surprising if the club sounded out Cocu about the vacancy.

Perhaps, for Cocu’s sake, it would be better if Luis Enrique stays. In that case, the Dutchman would be able to lead PSV back into the Champions League and gain the additional experience that comes with that challenge.

Nevertheless, it seems that, just as he was as a player, Cocu the manager will soon be coveted by plenty of clubs throughout Europe.

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.

Looks like Memphis Depay is on a roll. #GoogleTrends pic.twitter.com/0S0fUZS420

— Google (@Google) June 23, 2014

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.

I woke up like this 😎 pic.twitter.com/ERBiEJ2Jnd

— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) April 20, 2015

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.

Game on! Happy with my renewed contract and looking forward to a great season #PSV pic.twitter.com/GsVH0d0R7Y

— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) August 23, 2014

Captain Georginio Wijnaldum just signed a contract extension till 2018. Congrats @GWijnaldum #psv #wijnaldum pic.twitter.com/bqvY5Ut44M

— PSV International (@psveindhoven) August 11, 2014

PSV is happy to officially announce the contract extension of striker Jürgen Locadia till 2019! #psv #locadia pic.twitter.com/LrVKIhuEO4

— PSV International (@psveindhoven) August 9, 2014

"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.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com. 

PSV Eindhoven will be without the talents of Memphis Depay for up to eight weeks after it was revealed their star winger has suffered a groin tear.     

The official Europa League account confirmed the blow after Depay was withdrawn early from PSV's clash against PEC Zwolle on Saturday, coming off after just 18 minutes:

.@PSV will be without @MemphisDepay for up to 8 weeks after the young winger suffered a groin tear this weekend. #PSV pic.twitter.com/sfIh5Ve122

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 15, 2014

The Dutch international has been in stellar form for the Eredivisie giants of late, and prior to this weekend's defeat, he had netted five goals in his previous four games, per WhoScored.com.

As such, Phillip Cocu will need to reorganise quickly in order to fill the void, it being of little coincidence that the first fixture they didn't manage to win this season coincided with Depay's injury.

Summer signing Luuk de Jong has started strongly at the Philips Stadion and will now bear a new burden as the side's chief goalscorer, while Jurgen Locadia and Georginio Wijnaldum will also be expected to pick up where Depay left off.

PSV begin their Europa League campaign on Thursday with the visit of Estoril, but Depay now risks missing the majority of their group stage, with three of their fixtures coming between now and the end of October.