Memphis Depay to rejoin Corinthians only if he renews contract | OneFootball

On vacation after a lackluster showing with the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, forward Memphis Depay is facing a dilemma regarding his future at Corinthians. With a contract only until July 31, the No. 10 is expected to return to the squad’s daily routine at CT Dr. Joaquim Grava if he extends his deal with the club from Parque São Jorge. The information was first published by Meu Timão.

The Dutchman began a recess period right after being called up by the Netherlands for the World Cup shortly after finishing the first half of the season at Corinthians. Due to the break in the schedule, the Corinthians squad was given 25 days off, returning to training on June 25, a Thursday.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

Although all players were given 25 days of rest, Meu Timão reported that no date had been set for Memphis Depay’s return to Corinthians’ training center. However, internally, it is understood that it makes little sense for the player to return to club activities just a few days before the end of his deal with the Parque São Jorge side.

Until the end of Memphis Depay’s contract, Corinthians, besides the friendly against FC Cascavel in Paraná next Sunday at 4 p.m. (Brasília time), has three Brazilian Championship matches. On Thursday the 23rd, they host Remo at Neo Química Arena at 7:30 p.m. Three days later, on Sunday, they visit Bahia at Fonte Nova at 4 p.m. Finally, they face Athletico-PR in Itaquera on the 30th at 7:30 p.m. The matches are valid for rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the national competition.

According to UOL Esporte, Corinthians presented a renewal offer to the forward and his representatives in early June. The offer includes a salary reduction and no help from partners or external resources. It is worth remembering that the club owes the player more than R$ 40 million in bonuses tied to contract targets.

In recent days, journalist Samir Carvalho, from Café do Setorista, reported that behind the scenes there is a very negative feeling regarding Memphis Depay’s staying at Parque São Jorge. At the 2026 World Cup, he recorded one assist in three matches played – Japan (2-2 – 20 minutes), Sweden (5-1 – 18 minutes played and one assist), and Tunisia (3-1 – 13 minutes played). In the elimination match against Morocco in the second round, the No. 10 did not even come off the bench.

Last Wednesday (8), the player posted an enigmatic message on his secondary Instagram account, @bloodymemphiss, amid the contract renewal imbroglio: “I lost people, money, and time, but I never lost direction. And that’s why I’m still here.”

Memphis Depay’s current situation

Corinthians’ No. 10 is having a season below expectations. In 14 matches for Timão in 2026, he has one goal and one assist. Between late March and the end of May, Memphis was sidelined, as he was recovering 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 starting (Platense-ARG – Conmebol Libertadores), but being substituted by Fernando Diniz right at halftime. He is under contract with the club until the end of July, and there is still no decision regarding his future at Parque São Jorge.

Memphis Depay’s numbers at Corinthians

Signed in September 2024 after his contract was not 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 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 club’s title wins in the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), 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 15 assists in 79 matches – 40 wins, 18 draws and 21 losses – a 58.23% success rate.

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