Man Utd’s Memphis Depay clause as Barcelona eye free transfer
Manchester United installed a buyback clause and a sell-on fee in Memphis Depay's contract at Lyon as Barcelona look to land their man.
The Netherlands international will see his contract expire at the end of the season after four years in France.
A troubled time at Old Trafford came to an end in 2017 with Jose Mourinho in charge, who sold him to Lyon for £17m – potentially rising to £22m.
But with his contract expiring this summer, Depay has admitted he is talking to other clubs.
Barcelona are at the forefront for the Dutchman but there are a number of other teams interested in his services.
It means that United are unlikely to see a penny despite agreeing a buyback clause and a sell-on fee.
When the Red Devils sold Depay, they believed that he could become the player they thought they were signing from PSV Eindhoven.
And while his form improved in France, Old Trafford officials never launched a bid to bring him back to the club.
That is mainly because United have other options, including Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
They also believed that they would see some form of financial gain with Barcelona determined to sign the forward last year.
Any fee agreed between Barca and Lyon would see the Red Devils take a cut, after agreeing a sell-on clause with the Ligue 1 outfit.
But with the 27-year-old departing on a free transfer, Ronald Koeman looks set to get one of his top targets for nothing – spurning United's contract agreement.
That is if the ex-Everton manager survives the summer at the Nou Camp with his future unclear while Depay has revealed he is speaking to clubs without agents.
“It is time for me to take control of my career,” Depay wrote on Twitter.
“As I have come to a point where I need to make important choices about my future, I have decided to negotiate my future deals together with my team of trusted confidants, backed by legal experts.
“I will decide about my destination myself. You will be the first to know.”
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