Euro 2020: Memphis Depay's move to Barcelona can boost Netherlands title bid - Frank de Boer

Dutch forward signed two-year deal with La Liga giants on Saturday

Netherlands' forward Memphis Depay rides a bike after a training session in Zeist on the eve of their Euro 2020 Group C match against North Macedonia. AFP

Memphis Depay arrives prior for the Netherlands' training session ahead of the Euro 2020 Group C match against North Macedonia. Getty Images

Memphis Depay, left, and Luuk de Jong warm up during the training session in Zeist. AP

Stefan de Vrij, left, and Memphis Depay fight for the ball during a training session in Zeist. AP

Memphis Depay takes part in a training session in Zeist. AFP

Memphis Depay takes part in a training session in Zeist. AFP

Memphis Depay takes part in a training session in Zeist. AFP

Memphis Depay takes part in a training session in Zeist. AFP

The Netherlands manager Frank de Boer hopes Memphis Depay's transfer to Barcelona will benefit his team for the remainder of Euro 2020.

Depay, 27, completed a move to Barca on Saturday, signing a two-year deal following his exit from Lyon on a free transfer. The Dutch forward was expected to join the Catalans last summer on deadline day, but the deal was not completed in time.

"Maybe the transfer to Barcelona will give him something extra to help him perform at his best," De Boer said before the team's final Euro 2020 Group C game against North Macedonia in Amsterdam on Sunday.

"We need Memphis at his best to go as far as we want in this tournament but we have confidence in him and he is a confident player."

Depay, who scored 20 goals in Ligue 1 for Lyon in the season just finished, converted a penalty in the Netherlands' 2-0 win over Austria on Thursday in front of watching Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman.

But the former Manchester United forward has come in for some criticism from some Dutch fans and media for failing to take other chances.

"I think Memphis is his first critic and I'm sure the criticism doesn't affect him," De Boer said. "He knows if he played well or not so let's hope for the Netherlands that he can reach the level that we have in mind."

The Netherlands have already secured qualification to the last-16 stage as group winners after beating both Ukraine and Austria in their first major tournament since the 2014 World Cup.

"When we are doing well we can beat anybody. Hopefully we can grow into the tournament and we still have some better performances to come," said De Boer, whose team will play in Budapest in the first knockout round against one of the best third-placed sides on June 27.

Victory there would set up a quarter-final in Baku against the runners-up from either Group A or B.

"We know our path to the final and to get to the final you have to win every game, so I don't really care who we play next," De Boer said. "We have no influence on it."