Manchester United's new signing Memphis Depay declared on Wednesday that his ambition is to become the best player in the world during his time at Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old Netherlands forward agreed to join Man United from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven last week in a deal reportedly worth around £25 million (Dh144.6m).
Depay, who has scored 25 goals this season, has the words “Dream Chaser” tattooed on his chest and said that it was his dream to emulate superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“‘Dream Chaser’ stands for me chasing my dreams,” Depay told reporters during a sponsor’s event in London.
“I believe I can be one of the best players in the world and I have to dream and believe to achieve. It is tattooed on my chest. You just have to work every day on your dreams.
“My dreams started with going to the World Cup and then when I was there, I scored two goals – becoming the youngest ever Dutch goal-scorer (at a World Cup) – and I was very happy.
“But when the World Cup was finished, I realised that was not it. I had to take more onto the pitch. There was more to do.
“So after the World Cup in pre-season I spoke to my manager and said I have to keep focused. Scoring in the World Cup was good, but not the end of it. Now I am on fire.”
Depay’s international teammate Leroy Fer has compared him to Ronaldo, who became a crowd favourite during his six-year spell at Old Trafford, but the United new boy knows he is not on a par with the Portuguese yet.
“I heard Leroy Fer speak about it and it is great to hear that from other players,” Depay said. “If you read it in the media, it is great, but I am 21 and I have not reached the level of Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He is a big hero for me and one day I hope to reach that level. He scores so many goals and I want to fight to be one of the best players in the world.”
The move to Manchester and the Premier League, which is subject to a medical examination, will reunite Depay with United manager Louis van Gaal, who awarded him his first international cap in October 2013.
“He is different,” Depay said of the former Netherlands coach. “His performance on the training ground is different from other trainers.
“It will be great to have an opportunity to train with him and work with him. Of course I am looking forward.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)
ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Creator: Tima Shomali
Starring: Tara Abboud, Kira Yaghnam, Tara Atalla
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
FIXTURES
All times UAE (+4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
SPEC SHEET: NOTHING PHONE (2A)
Display: 6.7-inch flexible Amoled, 2,412 x 1,080, 394ppi, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7,200 Pro, 4nm, octa-core
Memory: 8/12GB
Capacity: 128/256GB
Platform: Android 14, Nothing OS 2.5
Main camera: Dual 50MP main, f/1.88 + 50MP ultra-wide, f/2.2; OIS, EIS, auto-focus, ultra XDR, night mode
Main camera video: 4K @ 30fps, full-HD @ 60fps; slo-mo full-HD at 120fps
Front camera: 32MP wide, f/2.2
Battery: 5,000mAh; 50% in 30 minutes with 45-watt charger
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC (Google Pay)
Biometrics: Fingerprint, face unlock
I/O: USB-C
Durability: IP54, limited protection from water/dust
Cards: Dual-nano SIM
Colours: Black, milk, white
In the box: Nothing Phone (2a), USB-C-to-USB-C cable, pre-applied screen protector, Sim tray ejector tool
Price (UAE): Dh1,199 (8GB/128GB) / Dh1,399 (12GB/256GB)
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
The view from The National
BABYLON
Director: Damien Chazelle
Stars: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Jean Smart
Rating: 4/5
SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now