Memphis Depay in Corinthians squad for Libertadores 'game of the year' | OneFootball

On Thursday night (20), at 9:30 p.m. Brasília time, Corinthians will host Rosario Central-ARG at Neo Química Arena for the second leg of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores round of 16. To advance to the quarterfinals, Timão only need a simple win, since the first leg, played in Argentina on the 13th, ended in a goalless draw. If the teams are level again, the decision will go to a penalty shootout.

The main piece of news for Corinthians ahead of the match is forward Memphis Depay, 32, who has been included in the squad by head coach Fernando Diniz. The information was reported by Meu Timão and confirmed by Central do Timão. In training on the eve of the match, he completed part of the session normally with the squad. The expectation, according to ge.globo and also confirmed by the report, is that he will play between 30 and 45 minutes.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Memphis Depay had his contract renewal with Corinthians officially confirmed on the afternoon of last Tuesday (18), and shortly before that, his new deal was published in the Daily Information Bulletin (BID) of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). It is worth noting that Alvinegro, which currently has three active transfer bans (two from FIFA and one from the CBF) – totaling approximately R$ 22 million – was able to register the player’s new agreement because it is considered a contract extension rather than a new signing.

After a long round of negotiations and a withdrawal by Corinthians, through president Osmar Stabile, midway through the process citing “financial health” issues, the parties resumed talks as recently as last week. Last Monday (17), by seven votes in favor and six against, the No. 10 had his contract renewal ratified by Timão’s Advisory Council (CORI).

Before agreeing to remain at Timão after a lengthy negotiation process, Memphis Depay was on vacation following the World Cup with the Netherlands national team, which was eliminated in the round of 32 against Morocco on penalties. Even without playing since then, the player had been keeping himself physically prepared, doing daily private sessions with Diego Pereira, a fitness coach who worked at Corinthians between July 2024 and April 2025 and worked with the player during part of his time at Parque São Jorge.

Memphis Depay at the World Cup

In three matches at the biggest national-team tournament in the world (all as a substitute), he recorded one assist and 51 minutes on the pitch – 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, the No. 10 did not even come off the bench for the team then coached by Ronald Koeman.

Memphis Depay’s current form

The No. 10 is coming off a season below expectations. In 14 matches for Timão in 2026 (11 as a starter), he has one goal and one assist. Between late March and the end of May, Memphis was sidelined as he recovered from a grade 2 muscle injury suffered in a match against Flamengo in Itaquera in the eighth round of the Brasileirão.

Between the injury diagnosis and the start of the World Cup, Memphis Depay played in only two matches for Corinthians, one as a substitute (Atlético-MG – Brasileirão) and the other as a starter (Platense-ARG – Conmebol Libertadores), but he was substituted by Fernando Diniz at halftime.

Memphis Depay’s numbers for Corinthians

Signed in September 2024 after his contract with Atlético de Madrid of Spain was not renewed, Memphis Depay arrived at Corinthians and immediately played a key role in the team’s surge in the previous Brazilian Championship edition (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying rounds), 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 title-winning campaigns of the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), tallying two assists in those finals and playing an important role in the earlier knockout rounds. Wearing the Corinthians shirt, he has 20 goals and 15 assists in 79 matches – 40 wins, 18 draws, and 21 losses – a 58.23% win rate.

Before playing for Atlético de Madrid in Spain and Corinthians, he had spells at PSV in the Netherlands – where he came through the youth system – Manchester United (England), Lyon (France), and Barcelona (Spain). He is the fifth-highest foreign scorer in Timão’s history, behind only Romero (67), Guerrero (54), Tévez (46), and Herrera (22).

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