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Jose Mourinho open to Memphis Depay returning to Manchester United

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Jose Mourinho thinks Depay could still return to Manchester United in the future

Jose Mourinho says Memphis Depay could return to Manchester United after the forward joined Lyon on Friday.

Lyon completed a deal to sign Depay on Friday for a fee that could rise to £21.7m, with the 22-year-old having struggled for playing time under Mourinho - making only eight appearances in all competitions this season.

However, Mourinho has confirmed United have a buy-back clause in the deal, which could see the player - who was signed by Louis van Gaal in 2015 - come back to the club.

Memphis Depay has completed his move to French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais
Image: Depay has completed his move to French Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais

"Potentially, he is a very good player," Mourinho added. "I think when Mr Van Gaal decided to buy him, he did well. He knew him well from the national team, when he was young in the World Cup he had flashes of top quality.

"He was playing well in Holland but not the same here, but he was showing very good things.

"He didn't succeed in his 18 months but he is very young, so I think it is very important for the club to keep control of this talent, and we all wish he plays very well at Olympique Lyon and why not come back, because everyone really likes him."

Depay became the second major departure from United during the January transfer window, following Morgan Schneiderlin's exit to Everton for £24m.

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Mourinho has revealed he was not planning on key business happening during mid-season, but explained why he opted to sanction the sales.

"I don't think it is human to stop them from going," he said. "Only a bad offer or no offer stops them to go.

"But when the offer is correct, and we know how to evaluate that, I don't think it's human to stop somebody to go.

"So if [the same applies to] one of the players that are not happy, again I would not stop them to go."

Wayne Rooney sits on the bench at Old Trafford
Image: Ashley Young (right) has not expressed a wish to move to China, says Mourinho

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been welcomed back into United's first-team training in recent weeks, but has been linked with a move to an MLS side, while Sky sources understand Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng are interested in signing Ashley Young from Manchester United.

However, Mourinho remained coy on whether there would be further exits from the club this month.

"I don't know because it is media," Mourinho said about Young. "The first time I heard about it was when I was informed that it was in the media.

"I don't give credit to that unless Ashley Young comes and tells me something about it, which he didn't."

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