It was December 2015 and, concerned about some of Memphis Depay’s off-field decisions and the unwanted attention he often drew, Ryan Giggs, then Louis van Gaal’s assistant at Manchester United, sat down to talk to the Holland winger.

This was not uncommon. Giggs had often taken the time to counsel, advise and encourage Depay, something the player appreciated. He would later describe Giggs as an inspirational mentor.

“He talks a lot with me and gives me advice to equip me,” Depay said. “He has experienced everything already so he helps with all kinds of things. He works a lot with me.”

So Giggs talked, Depay listened, made all the right noises and United hoped the message would sink in this time because such conversations had not always been heeded before. Imagine the furrowed brows then when, a couple of weeks later, Depay arrived at United’s Carrington training base in a gleaming £240,000 Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Told to keep a lower profile, shun the bling, reconsider his extravagant, excessive attire and buckle down, the message went in one ear and out of the other. The exasperation was marked. As a snapshot of Depay’s doomed career at Old Trafford, it was telling.