Memphis Depay starts for Corinthians again after three months | OneFootball

On the afternoon of this Sunday (30), Corinthians faced Santos at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the 25th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship and were beaten 1-0. The result kept the Corinthians side in 10th place with 32 points — eight wins, eight draws, and nine losses — with 26 goals scored and 25 conceded.

Besides the win, the match also marked the first time forward Memphis Depay started for Corinthians after three months. The last time the No. 10 had started a match for Timão was on May 27, when he played 45 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Platense-ARG in Itaquera, in the sixth round of the Conmebol Libertadores group stage.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Corinthians Agency

According to SofaScore, a sports statistics app, the Dutchman posted the following numbers in the derby against Santos: two shots (one blocked), 2/8 accurate crosses, 22/28 accurate passes, 1/2 accurate long balls, 49 touches, 2/4 successful dribbles (50%), seven carries and two fouls won, two ball recoveries, and 4/7 ground duels won.

Memphis Depay had also not played a full 90 minutes for Timão since March 15. On that occasion, in the sixth round of the Brasileirão, he also scored in a 1-1 draw, again against Santos, at Vila Belmiro. During this period, he dealt with a muscle injury that kept him off the pitch for two months.

Recently, the Dutchman was involved in a contract renewal saga with Corinthians. After lengthy negotiations and a trip to Brazil with his staff to undergo tests, Corinthians announced on August 11 that they would not renew the player’s deal — which had expired on July 31 — citing “financial health” issues. After the negative reaction and pressure from the fans, president Osmar Stabile reversed his decision and resumed talks with the player and his representatives. On August 18, the club from Parque São Jorge finally made the contract extension official through July 31, 2028.

With the No. 10 available, Corinthians now begin another full training week before their next commitment. On September 6 at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Alvinegro will face Chapecoense at Neo Química Arena in the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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, against Morocco in the Round of 32, the No. 10 did not even come off the bench for Ronald Koeman’s side.

Memphis Depay’s current form

Corinthians’ No. 10 is having a season below expectations. In 17 matches for Timão in 2026 (11 as a starter), he has one goal and two assists. From late March to 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 coming off the bench (Atlético-MG — Brasileirão) and the other as a starter (Platense-ARG — Conmebol Libertadores), but he was substituted by Fernando Diniz at halftime.

Even without playing since then, the player had been keeping himself physically prepared, as he worked with Diego Pereira, Corinthians’ fitness coach between July 2024 and April 2025, who worked with the player during part of his time at Parque São Jorge. The professional is currently without a club after parting ways with Internacional at the beginning of July.

He only returned to action for Corinthians on August 20, Thursday, in the qualification for the Conmebol Libertadores quarterfinals. In the 1-0 win over Rosario Central-ARG, he provided the assist for midfielder Breno Bidon’s goal after coming on in the 25th minute of the second half in place of Pedro Raul.

Last Sunday (23), in the 2-1 loss to Coritiba at Couto Pereira Stadium in the 24th round of the Brasileirão, he was brought on by coach Fernando Diniz at halftime — he played 45 minutes and replaced Pedro Raul.

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 immediately played a key role in the team’s surge in the previous Brazilian Championship edition (from the relegation zone to the Libertadores qualifying stage), 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 winning the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), recording 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 81 matches — 41 wins, 18 draws, and 22 losses — a 58% success rate.

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

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