Corinthians opt against renewing Memphis contract | OneFootball

Corinthians president Osmar Stabile has decided not to sign Memphis Depay’s contract renewal, meaning the Dutch forward will no longer play for the club.

On Tuesday he said in a statement the call was made to protect the club’s financial health, adding that current and future obligations made a deal of this size incompatible with the balance required at present.

Talks had dragged on since the World Cup pause. The sides agreed terms on 26 July, tweaked clauses as fresh disputes arose, and the contract waited three days for signature. Memphis flew back on 4 August, passed two days of medicals at a hospital and at CT Joaquim Grava, yet was not reintegrated or taken to the first Conmebol Libertadores knockout.

To stay, he accepted a revised deal with reduced salary and bonuses, a two-year term instead of three, and staggered payment of R$42 million owed. Even so, influential councillors and figures close to Stabile in Parque São Jorge resisted the renewal.

Football executive Marcelo Paz led the talks, and head coach Fernando Diniz publicly argued for his stay. In recent days the financial, legal and marketing departments were aligned to complete the renewal. Stabile weighed the risk of losing political backing in an election year against angering fans by blocking the deal.

Memphis played 79 times for Corinthians, scoring 20 with 15 assists. He won three trophies, the Campeonato Paulista and Copa do Brasil in 2025, and the Supercopa Rei in 2026.

Source: Globo.com

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