Manchester: Jose Mourinho admits he has dismissed Memphis Depay from his plans because of the Dutch winger's desire to leave Manchester United in the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old, bought for £25m ($30m) from PSV Eindhoven by Louis van Gaal 18 months ago, has been one of the biggest losers of Mourinho's arrival at Old Trafford in the close-season.
And the United manager explained his decision to omit him from first team consideration sprung from Depay's wish to leave Manchester next month.
"I have to say that in the past couple of months my decisions in relation to Memphis were influenced by the feelings and information that he would like to leave in January and that we were going to have a real offer that we would be willing to accept," said Mourinho.
"That obviously influences me. If I know, if I have the feeling that a player is leaving -- if I have to give chances and develop other players -- then I go to Lingard, Mkhitaryan, Martial, the players I know 100 per cent who are going to stay with us.
"It is a position where we have more options."
Depay has been little more than a bit-part contributor for United this season and has played almost as many minutes for Holland -- 119 in two World Cup qualifiers -- as he has with his club.
