Corinthians turmoil as president’s call leaves Memphis feeling betrayed | OneFootball

Corinthians president Osmar Stabile vetoed Memphis Depay’s renewal shortly before the squad flew to Argentina, surprising players and staff and leaving the forward feeling betrayed.

Minutes before flying to face Rosario Central in the Libertadores last 16, the club announced the deal would not be extended, which could lift the sum owed to him to R$ 77 million.

Stabile visited the Joaquim Grava training ground on Tuesday to end talks, then informed coach Fernando Diniz and executive Marcelo Paz before departure. Memphis’s lawyers were contacted by a finance staffer as the player waited at his São Paulo hotel.

After months of talks, Memphis accepted reduced pay, revised bonuses, a two-year term and instalment of the R$ 42 million owed. Back in Brazil on 4 August, he passed medicals, but hours before the announcement, despite departments being aligned, Stabile refused to sign and Memphis said an earlier commitment was broken.

Executives judged renewal would spread the R$ 42 million over two years, whereas a single claim with interest and penalties could reach R$ 77 million and risk a Fifa transfer ban. Marketing had lined up sponsors and legal hurdles were cleared.

Under political pressure, Stabile argued the club could not buy titles and that his priority was fixing the finances. The decision left Paz and Diniz exposed after backing the forward, while Memphis is hearing other offers and has not ruled out staying in Brazil as he awaits payment.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”