Paz on Memphis renewal, will Corinthians sell young stars this window | OneFootball

Corinthians' football executive Marcelo Paz opened up about the renewal of Memphis Depay, whose contract ends in June this year. In a recent interview, the Dutchman expressed his willingness to discuss an extension of his contract. The Timão director reiterated the player's desire but explained why the process is not as simple as it seems.

“The renewal process involves a discussion about what is owed. Everyone knows that Corinthians has a debt with Memphis. There are ongoing talks to settle this debt. It's not about paying everything right now, but about organizing a payment flow that satisfies both him and his team. Once that is settled, we will all feel comfortable, including him, to move on to the next step, which is the contract renewal. I see that he wants to stay, is extremely connected with the club and the city. He loves Brazil, loves Corinthians, and makes a point of showing it, genuinely,” he explained to ESPN.

The debt Corinthians owes Memphis Depay, according to Gazeta Esportiva, has already surpassed R$ 34 million. The club is still seeking an agreement to pay the debt in installments, but made a proposal that irritated the striker's staff in mid-January. The delay has also bothered the player’s representatives.

The report found that Corinthians wants to resolve the situation and is open to dialogue. The club's board, in fact, sees the Alisson case as an example of the current austerity the club is experiencing. Timão backtracked on the agreement made with São Paulo and gave up paying R$ 1 million upfront to sign the midfielder.

Marcelo Paz also made it clear that Corinthians will try to resolve the situation before the World Cup, which will, in a way, serve as a showcase for Memphis Depay. The player, it’s worth noting, can already sign a pre-contract with any team.

“That would be ideal. Not just because of the World Cup, but because when you have a player whose contract is ending, if you want him to stay, it’s best to resolve it as soon as possible. The closer it gets to the end, the more uncomfortable the situation becomes for those negotiating. Memphis is not someone who puts on pressure. He doesn’t play games, he’s genuine, he truly shows he wants to stay at Corinthians, but the previous situation needs to be resolved, with direct involvement from President Osmar and the club’s financial department,” he said.

Will Corinthians sell its gems now?

Marcelo Paz was also asked about the situation of Corinthians’ young talents and assets that have increased in value during this transfer window, such as André, Breno Bidon, and Yuri Alberto. Timão, in fact, has already rejected two offers for the striker, one from Lazio (Italy) and another from Fenerbahce (Turkey).

The football executive also admitted to inquiries from Italian football for midfielder André. However, he guaranteed that none of the assets will be sold during this transfer window—a scenario that will necessarily change in the middle of the year.

“There was nothing for Bidon. For André, yes, there was interest, but what I can guarantee to the fans is that no player will leave now. These players, especially Bidon, André, and Yuri, have no chance of leaving at this moment, they will stay at the club. Now, in the mid-year window, it’s not about fear, it’s a necessity. Corinthians needs to sell players. I said this in a press conference, and there will be sales. Corinthians needs to sell players for budgetary reasons. There is a planned number of player sales, and that must be met. Everyone knows this, from Dorival to the president,” Paz stated.

Did Corinthians approach Coutinho?

The football director was also candid about Corinthians’ intentions in the transfer market. He revealed that there was no contact from the club with Philippe Coutinho, who recently terminated his contract with Vasco.

“Coutinho was a player that Dorival practically launched at Vasco. He talks to me a lot, remembers who played with him. He’s a player Dorival knows, the whole world knows, but there was no approach, dialogue, or contact. Everyone knows he terminated with Vasco, but nothing has happened so far,” Paz concluded.

Upcoming Corinthians matches

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