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'I'm not David Beckham'

Manchester United flop Memphis Depay plays down David Beckham comparison after Lyon wondergoal

MEMPHIS DEPAY is trying to play down David Beckham comparisons after his wondergoal.

The Dutch winger took the famous No7 shirt after signing for Manchester United but failed to live up to the hype.

After scoring a long-range lob against Toulouse yesterday, Depay was compared to Becks - and, incredibly, Pele.



But while admitting it was the best goal of his career, he was quick to dismiss the comments.

He told Canal+: "I'm not David Beckham. I don't compare myself to such a legend.

"I think it's great for me to score a goal like this. I tried the same thing a few years ago when I played for PSV and I hit the bar. This time, I got lucky.

 Memphis Depay hit an unbelievable lob from the halfway line
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Memphis Depay hit an unbelievable lob from the halfway lineCredit: Array
 David Beckham scores against Wimbledon from inside his own half
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David Beckham scores against Wimbledon from inside his own halfCredit: Getty Images

"I realised in the first half that the keeper was off his line all the time. We put on pressure, I looked at him, and as soon as we won the ball I knew where he was, so all I had to do was turn and just do it - don't think, just shoot.

"I didn't even see the ball go in, I just saw the stadium going crazy.

"I think I've scored the best goal of my life. Aside from that, I'm very happy because the team has taken an important victory.

"I think I'm making progress every day in training. I know the team and my team-mates better and better. I have a lot of hope for the future."

 Depay is rebuilding his career at Lyon after his United flop
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Depay is rebuilding his career at Lyon after his United flopCredit: Getty Images

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas compared Depay's effort to a Pele miss against Czechoslovakia in the 1970 World Cup.

He claimed: "Once more, through his performance, Memphis treated us.

"He did something that Pele tried - I don't remember what year he did it in.

"This is a sign of a very high class. He's the kind of player who can make the fans come to the stadium.

"We're lucky to have exceptional homegrown players and now foreign players of an international level."

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