Depay says Corinthians 'unacceptable' as contract ends

Memphis Depay has condemned Corinthians' actions as "unacceptable" and a violation of their contractual agreement following the Brazilian club's refusal to renew his contract. The former Manchester United and Barcelona forward initially signed a two-year deal with Corinthians in 2024, but now finds himself out of contract due to the club allegedly withdrawing an agreed-upon extension that was previously confirmed by the club's president, sporting director, legal team, and finance department.

Depay expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that he never wanted this situation and had always respected the club throughout the process. However, he is now compelled to react strongly to protect his interests. In the coming days, Depay intends to make a public statement, assured that he will not tolerate this unacceptable behavior without consequence.

Depay's impressive career with Corinthians includes scoring 20 goals in 79 appearances and contributing to the team's victories in the Copa do Brasil in 2025 and the Supercopa do Brasil this year. The Sao Paulo-based club, currently seventh in Brazil's Serie A, cited financial constraints as the reason for not extending Depay's contract.

The statement emphasized that accepting a new commitment of this scale would compromise the financial stability required to maintain the club's sustainability. Club president Osmar Stabile is expected to provide further clarification in an upcoming press conference. Despite scoring in 21 of his 22 World Cup appearances, Depay failed to find the back of the net during the 2026 World Cup, where his team was eliminated in the round of 16.