Leave it to the boss: Corinthians No 10 back after renewal talks | OneFootball

Throughout the night this Thursday (20), Corinthians took the field at Neo Química Arena to face Rosario Central-ARG in the second leg of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores round of 16, and beat the opponent 1-0. Corinthians’ goal was scored by midfielder Breno Bidon late in the second half. With the result, Timão secured a place in the quarterfinals after a goalless draw in the first leg and pocketed another R$ 9 million.

The match marked striker Memphis Depay’s return to the pitch in a Corinthians shirt. In tonight’s match, the Dutchman was brought on by coach Fernando Diniz in the 25th minute of the second half, replacing Pedro Raul. Number 10 came on and was decisive, as he provided the assist for Breno Bidon to score from a free kick.

Photo: Conmebol Libertadores

His previous last match for Timão had been on May 27, when he played 45 minutes in the 2-0 loss to Platense at Neo Química Arena, in the sixth and final round of this year’s Conmebol Libertadores group stage. Overall, he had not played since June 25, when he featured for 13 minutes in the Netherlands’ 3-1 win over Tunisia in the World Cup group stage.

Even without playing since then, the player had been keeping himself physically prepared, doing daily work with Diego Pereira, Corinthians’ fitness coach between July 2024 and April 2025, who worked with the athlete during part of his time at Parque São Jorge. The professional is currently without a club after being dismissed by Internacional in early July.

According to Sofascore, a sports statistics app, Memphis Depay posted the following numbers in the match: 4/5 accurate passes, two carries, seven actions on the ball, and one ball recovery. His rating on the app was 6.5. Negotiations between Corinthians and the player over a contract renewal had dragged on for a long time. His previous deal had expired on July 31.

On August 11, Corinthians announced that it would not renew number 10’s contract, citing “financial health” issues. The news of his departure sparked a negative reaction among the fans, which increased the pressure on president Osmar Stabile, who shortly afterward reversed course and talks with the player and his representatives resumed. Last Monday (17), the Advisory Council ratified his contract renewal with Timão and, the following day, the club from Parque São Jorge officially announced his extension through July 2028. To stay at the club, he reduced his salary and gave up some perks, such as bonuses for goal contributions.

This season, Memphis Depay had been dealing with physical problems. Between late March and the end of May, he was sidelined due to a grade 2 muscle injury in one of his thighs. In 15 matches up to that point, he has one goal and two assists. His last goal contribution for Timão had come in mid-March, when he scored in a 1-1 draw against Santos at Vila Belmiro in the first half of the Brazilian Championship.

With number 10 available, Corinthians remains focused on the rest of the season and now turns its attention back to the Brazilian Championship. Next Sunday night (23), at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro will visit Coritiba at Couto Pereira Stadium for the 24th round of the national tournament. At the moment, Timão sits in ninth place with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws, and seven losses — 25 goals scored and 22 conceded.

Memphis Depay at the World Cup

In three matches at the biggest international tournament in the world (all coming off the bench), he recorded one assist and 51 minutes on the field — Japan (2-2 – 20 minutes), Sweden (5-1 – 18 minutes played and one assist), and Tunisia (3-1 – 13 minutes played). In the match that resulted in the Netherlands’ elimination, number 10 did not even come off the bench for Ronald Koeman’s team.

Memphis Depay’s numbers for Corinthians

Signed in September 2024 after not having his contract renewed by Atlético de Madrid of Spain, Memphis Depay arrived at Corinthians and was immediately crucial in the team’s surge in the previous Brazilian Championship edition (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores preliminary round), scoring seven goals and providing one assist in 11 matches in the national tournament.

Last season and at the start of this one, he was decisive in the club’s Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026) titles, totaling two assists in those finals and playing an important role in the earlier knockout rounds. In a Corinthians shirt, he has 20 goals and 16 assists in 80 matches — 41 wins, 18 draws, and 21 losses — a 58.23% success rate.

Before playing for Atlético de Madrid of Spain and Corinthians, he had spells with PSV of the Netherlands — where he came through the ranks — Manchester United (England), Lyon (France), and Barcelona (Spain). He is the fifth-highest foreign goalscorer in Timão’s history, behind Romero (67), Guerrero (54), Tevez (46), and Herrera (22).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.