Memphis Depay in Corinthians squad for Atlético-MG clash in Brasileirão | OneFootball

On Sunday night (24), at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time), Corinthians host Atlético-MG at Neo Química Arena in a match valid for the 17th round of the 2026 Brazilian Championship. Timão currently sit in 17th place with 18 points — four wins, six draws, and six losses — with 14 goals scored and 18 conceded.

The club from Parque São Jorge should even have an important boost for the match. That is because forward Memphis Depay, who has not played since March 22 while recovering from a muscle injury, has been included in the squad for the game against the team from Minas Gerais. The information was reported by Central do Timão. The expectation is that the number 10 will have at least 20 minutes to show what he can do.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

His last match wearing the Corinthians shirt took place two months ago, in a 1-1 draw against Flamengo at Neo Química Arena, in the eighth round of the Brazilian Championship. On that day, he started the move that led to the goal scored by forward Yuri Alberto. Memphis got injured after receiving the ball in midfield and making an outside-of-the-foot pass to Matheus Bidu on the left wing, and was substituted shortly after with thigh pain.

In addition, the Dutchman is also expected to get minutes in the clash against Platense of Argentina on Wednesday (27), at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), in a match for the sixth round of the Conmebol Libertadores group stage. It is worth noting that the player is under contract with Corinthians until July 20 and, so far, there is no decision regarding his future at Parque São Jorge.

Signed in September 2024 after not renewing with Atlético de Madrid, Memphis Depay quickly became one of Corinthians’ main players. He was crucial in the team’s surge in that year’s Brasileirão, in which the team escaped the relegation zone and finished the tournament in a spot for the following year’s Pre-Libertadores — seventh place with 56 points. During the team’s recovery in the competition, he scored seven goals.

Later, he played a decisive role in winning the Campeonato Paulista (2025), Copa do Brasil (2025), and Supercopa do Brasil (2026), against Palmeiras, Vasco da Gama, and Flamengo, respectively. For Timão, he has 20 goals and 15 assists in 77 matches (61 as a starter).

Eyeing the World Cup

Last Monday (18), coach Ronald Koeman commented on the forward’s physical condition and made it clear that the player’s presence at the World Cup will depend on his minutes in the remaining matches before the final squad announcement.

“There is a chance that Memphis will be there. He still has three games before the call-up. He needs to play in them. Then I will take him (to the World Cup),” the coach said in an interview with the program Rondo on Ziggo Sport.

The Netherlands national team’s all-time top scorer, Memphis is racing against time to convince the coaching staff that he will be physically fit to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final Netherlands squad will be announced on May 27. The European team is in Group F of the competition, alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia.

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