Manchester United
Manchester United have formally completed the signing of Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven. United agreed a £31 million (Dh177m) deal with the Dutch club for the 21-year-old winger last month. United have now confirmed Depay has signed a four-year contract at Old Trafford with the option to extend for a further year.
Asked how much he wanted to emulate the feats of legendary United wingers Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, Depay told MUTV: “I’m going to let my feet speak. I hope I can develop here in the Premier League and I hope I can be like those great legends one time in my career.
“I’m going to work hard, so let’s see. I believe I can be a great player for Manchester United.”
Depay’s confidence comes from the brilliant form that saw him finish as the top scorer in the Dutch top flight last season, with his 22 goals in 30 games helping PSV to the title.
His transition to life in a new country will also be aided by the presence of his former Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal, who is now in charge at Old Trafford.
“I know Memphis well from our time working together in the Netherlands national team. He is a young versatile player who has the ability to play in a number of different positions,” van Gaal said.
“It will take time for Memphis to get used to the rhythm of the Premier League but I have no doubt that he has the potential to become a great footballer for this club and he is at the right club to continue the good work he has done so far.”
Republic of Ireland
Ireland striker Robbie Keane may miss Saturday night’s 2016 European Championship qualifier against Scotland after two family members died after being overcome by toxic fumes in a sewer. Keane’s cousin, Alan Harris, died on Wednesday and Alan’s brother, Stephen, died on Friday. They were inspecting underground pipes on a housing estate in Portmarnock, north Dublin.
Keane trained on Friday but did not attend Ireland’s pre-game news conference in Dublin. Ireland manager Martin O’Neill says Keane is “quite down at the moment”, and will leave the striker to decide if he is mentally ready to play.
Fifa
International police body Interpol has announced it was suspending a 10-year partnership deal with Fifa worth €20 million (Dh82.6m) following a corruption probe into football’s world governing body. Interpol boss Juergen Stock said he was suspending the deal set up in May 2011 to create a 10-year “Integrity in Sport”.
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