Barcelona sporting director Jordi Cruyff has suggested that Memphis Depay will not be allowed to leave Camp Nou during the January transfer window.

The 28-year-old's contract with the Catalan outfit is due to expire at the end of June, and it is unlikely that he will be penning fresh terms with the club.

Memphis is currently with the Netherlands squad at the World Cup, helping Louis van Gaal's side reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

There remains widespread speculation surrounding his future at club level, though, with Manchester United said to be keen to re-sign their former player in January.

Memphis has only played three times for Barcelona this season, scoring once, although he was unavailable for a long period through injury.

Cruyff has hinted that the La Liga giants are not open to allowing the Dutchman to leave in January, as they want to have a number of forward options in the second half of the campaign.

"In the end, for example, the situation of Memphis, who has been injured this season and has not been able to be present as much as he wanted and what the team wanted," Cruyff told Mundo Deportivo.

"It is also true that in the games prior to his injury he was playing as a starter and with some pretty nice goals. This thinking every week that you're as good as the last game doesn't make sense. In the end we also have to think about (Robert) Lewandowski being suspended three games today.

"The equations are made, not by Memphis but by anyone, that if a Barça player leaves to bring another you can consider it. But if that's not going to give you the 'fair play' either, then why do it? It makes no sense.

"Now, going back to Memphis, saying that he has always had an impeccable attitude at the level of effort and Xavi will be the first to say it.

"He always says that he is a player who doesn't cause problems, who always makes an effort to the maximum and when he has had to be there, he has been there and has responded.

"So, today we are not thinking about the exits but about having a competitive team for the second round, with the same line of the first round and Memphis, if he recovers from his injury, and is showing it in the national team, he is a player who can help a lot to any club in which he is."

Memphis made the move to Barcelona in July 2021 after running down his contract at Lyon.

The former PSV Eindhoven youngster has scored 14 goals and registered two assists in 41 appearances for the Catalan outfit since his arrival from French football. body check tags ::