Get the day's biggest United stories delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Manchester United have been advised to appoint a personal coach for Memphis Depay to ensure the Holland winger's first season at Old Trafford doesn't flop like Angel di Maria’s.

Louis van Gaal has been told to give his £25m signing special treatment to avoid a repeat of Di Maria’s miserable campaign.

A leading performance specialist claims Depay could suffer a similar fate to United’s £59.7m record buy, whose form deteriorated dramatically after making such a bright start to his United career.

Van Gaal has already warned Holland’s golden boot-winner that he will have to adapt to the Premier League.

And Ray Wilson, from sports performance consultancy Back 2 Action, says the United manager should take measures to help the Dutch international.

“I believe it would be good for him to have an individual coach,” he said. “Someone who can be around him and only him to assist with his performance.

“We see it so often where a player scores a goal and everybody thinks they’re great and has settled straight in and that’s what we saw with Angel Di Maria for example.

“Initially he’s on quite a high, but all of a sudden his performances start to drop.

“Did he have the right team around him to support him and get him ready for each matchday?

“The answer is probably no.

“So rather than making similar errors that were made with Di Maria it would be great to see a support structure around these foreign players so they can excel in the same way they did at their former clubs.”

Wilson was speaking to 888sport as Premier League players start returning to their clubs for pre-season training.

Depay secured a move to United after scoring 25 goals for PSV Eindhoven last season.

But Van Gaal immediately warned him that he will find life more difficult in England.

“He’s full of confidence - you hear it - but he shall notice it is not so easy,” said the Dutchman.

“In the Premier League there is a big difference from the Dutch league, always pressure on the ball, physical resistance high, so it’s not so easy.

More Manchester United stories

“I have said that, but he’s full of confidence.

“He shall say what he is thinking, what he is feeling, but I know that it is not so easy.

“Also players like Rojo, Di Maria, Blind, they had problems. We have to give him time also.”

But Depay, who could be used in a more central role by United, is convinced he will be a success at Old Trafford.

“I’m excited to do my job for Manchester United to score goals.

“I’m a striker and I can score goals and give assists.”

Di Maria’s future remains in doubt despite insisting he wants to fight for his future at United.

The Argentine only started one of United’s last 10 games last season.

Read more on Ray Wilson's thoughts on the science behind pre-season on 888sport.com