Thursday 3 November 2016 15:24, UK
Memphis Depay may need to leave Manchester United after being left out of Thursday's Europa League squad, says Fenerbahce coach Dick Advocaat.
Jose Mourinho has not included Depay in his 21-man selection for the tie against Fenerbahce in Turkey, despite confirming the 22-year-old is not injured.
Depay has made just seven appearances for United this season and has yet to start a game under Mourinho in either the Premier League or the Europa League, and Advocaat - who handed him his debut at PSV Eindhoven - believes the winger may need to look elsewhere for first-team football.
"The potential is there for him to be a good player," Advocaat said. "You cannot lose that, he has the quality to be a top player, but the problem for him is that there are so many quality players in that squad.
"So for himself it is important to start playing regularly at the age that he is at - otherwise the way, I think, is that maybe he has to find another solution [club] because he is too good to sit on the bench. I still believe in him, he has the right mentality, the right character to play for United, but there are so many options there. Regular playing time will help his progression."
Phil Jones and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have both been included for United's squad, with Mourinho's side second in Group A, level on six points from three games with leaders Feyenoord, while Fenerbahce are third with four points.
Meanwhile, Advocaat has also confirmed Robin van Persie is fit to face his former club on Thursday despite being withdrawn in the 66th minute after scoring twice in Fenerbahce's win over Kardemir on Sunday.
"He was not injured. I just saved him. It was 5-0 at that time," he said.
