BarcelonaMemphis Depay was one of the main candidates to leave Barça in the summer. Before even Aubameyang. But the Dutch striker did not want to leave. Or, if he did, it had to be on his terms. “I came for free and I want to leave for free”, they claim to have heard at the Camp Nou when the attempt was made to sell it to make a drawer and gain a salary margin. The operation was not completed and Memphis began the course in Barcelona. But half a year later things have changed and now the scenario is a little more favorable.
The situation of the Dutch striker is not comfortable. He arrived in 2021 at zero cost with the illusion of becoming a reference star at Barça. No less, he arrived just as Messi was leaving. Sideline comparisons – which are completely impossible to make – Memphis’ performance was intermittent and marred by injury woes. This course has added an injury and a controversy. He injured his left femoral biceps during the international break in September and did not play again for Blaugrana until after the World Cup. In fact, as the ARA explained, the footballer orange prioritized the Qatar appointment. A gesture that did not please the dressing room at all. Today, Memphis has the role of the team’s sixth forward, behind the two undisputed starters, Lewandowski and Dembélé; and Ansu Fati, Raphinha and Ferran Torres. Since the end of the World Cup, he has only played one match, the Cup match against Intercity, where he started and was replaced with a quarter of an hour remaining. He didn’t score. In the derby against Espanyol, at the Metropolitano and in the Super Cup, he watched everything from the bench.
Barça meets with Xavi to discuss signings
Memphis, in fact, was one of the proper names of the meeting held this Friday by the members of the sports area with thestaff by Xavi Hernández. “Xavi is happy with the team he has,” said sports vice-president Rafael Yuste. Although the coach has relegated Memphis to a secondary role, he is in favor of him using up the half year of his remaining contract, because it means having one more piece in attack – Barça, as Yuste has acknowledged, “has no plans” to strengthen- yes this winter–. However, the club takes into account the financial issue and prefers to get rid of it. If it is with a sale, better, because it would mean making a drawer. And if it is only in the form of assignment, at least it would allow him to save the six months of salary – his bill exceeds 10 million per year – that he has left to collect. Some money that would be very welcome in a club that does not have a salary cap and that has sued the League to gain margin and be able to strengthen itself in the summer.
Sources in the locker room assure ARA that the future of Memphis is not yet decided and that, with fifteen days left until the winter market closes, everything is “up in the air”. From the noble offices they insist that the priority is to find a way out, but remember that there is time until the end of January. According to this information, there will be no movement in the coming days and Barça will wait a few days to open the door. One reason is sports: Lewandowski and Ferran are suspended for the next two league games. The other, economic, and is that the offer they have on the table does not quite convince them.
The proposal of Atlético de Madrid does not seduce Barça
The club received a proposal from the English Newcastle, which paid around 20 million for the player. But this proposal did not seduce Memphis. On the other hand, the Dutchman did look forward to playing for Atlético de Madrid, who proposed a transfer to Barça. At the Camp Nou they are in favor of him not going to a club in the Spanish league, to avoid strengthening a direct rival. In addition, and taking into account Griezmann’s precedent, there are voices at the Camp Nou who are opposed to making more deals with the mattress makers.
Memphis is not guaranteed to end up leaving. But if it does, it will be at the end of the month.
