Corinthians coaches issued a reprimand to Memphis Depay after the player was observed using his mobile phone while seated on the substitutes bench during their fixture against Flamengo. The former Manchester United forward, who started the match, was withdrawn in the first half due to apparent discomfort, later returning to the dugout after a brief period in the changing room.
Incident During Stoppage Time
In the closing moments of second-half stoppage-time, Depay was seen glancing down at a phone in his possession. A member of the coaching staff promptly approached him, engaging in an animated conversation, after which Depay swiftly put the device away. The player has since insisted that his use of the phone was solely to communicate with medical personnel in the Netherlands following the injury sustained during the game.
Depay's Clarification on Social Media
Following the incident, Memphis Depay took to X to provide clarification. He stated, "Just to clarify, my moment with the phone was purely to communicate with the medical staff in the Netherlands at that moment. I came outside to show support to my team, whilst I could've stayed inside the dressing room with the injury. I'm upset with the result of the game as well. We keep working for better days." This explanation aims to contextualize his actions amidst the scrutiny from club staff.
Injury Concerns and National Team Implications
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman revealed that Depay underwent a scan on Monday and is awaiting the results. Koeman commented at a press conference, "He can still travel over, but it doesn't look good. We might bring him in later, perhaps for the second match, but if that's not feasible, then there's no need." The Netherlands are scheduled to play a friendly against Norway on Friday, followed by a match against Ecuador four days later, raising questions about Depay's availability.
Career Trajectory and Current Form
Memphis Depay remains a regular for the Netherlands national team, 18 months after his move to Brazil, following stints with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Notably, during the European section of World Cup qualifying, only Erling Haaland scored more than Depay's eight goals. This contrasts with his time at Manchester United, where he managed just seven goals in total, all in his first season under Louis van Gaal.
After Jose Mourinho took over, Depay featured only eight more times before being sold to Lyon. He rediscovered his form in France, scoring 76 goals over 178 matches, which led to a transfer to Barcelona. However, his time there was short-lived, with 13 goals in his debut season before moving to Atletico Madrid and eventually joining Corinthians.
In Brazil, Depay has made 76 appearances across three seasons, netting 20 times, though he has scored only once so far this campaign. His contract with Corinthians is set to expire this year, adding uncertainty to his future with the club.
