Memphis Depay is yet another blockbuster signing in Brazilian football.
The Dutch player leaves the epicentre of European football to arrive in Brazil, with the main goal of saving Corinthians from their second relegation.
Check out the details of the deal and whether it was a good move for all parties involved.
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Memphis Depay’s Value at Timão
With an indisputable footballing pedigree, Memphis Depay has always been a highly regarded player worldwide.
He has played in the top leagues and for two of the biggest clubs on the planet, Manchester United and Barcelona.
Before Corinthians, his last club was Atlético de Madrid. The 30-year-old was a free agent after his contract with the Spanish capital club ended in July 2024.
Several teams enquired about the possibility of signing the forward.
Among them, it’s believed that Sevilla made an official bid for Depay. However, the player was asking for double what the Andalusian club offered.
This high wage demand led Sevilla to pull out of the deal.
Reportedly, Depay earned around €500,000 per month at Atlético de Madrid.
As a result, Corinthians had to at least match his European salary, which is still a tall order by Brazilian standards.
The club’s official offer was a two-year contract.
When it comes to wages, the numbers are staggering. Depay will receive the highest monthly salary in all of Brazil.
The exact figure is unclear, but internal sources suggest that between wages and signing bonuses, Corinthians will shell out an astonishing R$ 3.5 million per month.
As mentioned, Depay will have the highest salary in Brazil, far exceeding Palmeiras’ Dudu, who earns R$ 2.1 million.
Depay’s salary will be double that of players like Philippe Coutinho, Alex Telles, Gabigol, Thiago Silva, and De La Cruz.
Now, it’s worth assessing how this signing fits into Corinthians’ reality and Brazilian football as a whole.
He was unveiled today, 11 September 2024, at Parque São Jorge.
Image: MAURICE VAN STEEN / ANP / AFP
Will Memphis Depay Be a Saviour or a Burden for Corinthians?
Depay is known for his refined technical skills.
Although not in his prime anymore, he remains a world-class player.
However, he has been dealing with frequent injuries, a problem that tends to worsen as players hit their 30s.
In terms of numbers, Depay missed 124 days due to injuries, primarily muscle-related. These absences amount to just over four months, during which he missed 28 matches for Atlético de Madrid and the Dutch national team.
His recurring injury issues should be a red flag for Corinthians’ management.
Currently, the club sits in 17th place and are the first team in the relegation zone. Their direct rivals, from 16th to 14th place, have at least two more points and one or two games in hand.
With the Brasileirão already in its 25th round, only 13 matches remain.
This clearly shows that relegation is a very real possibility for the team.
Another alarming fact is that Corinthians have three players among the top 10 earners in Serie A.
These figures become even more concerning when you consider that Corinthians are the most indebted club in Brazil, with nearly R$ 1.9 billion in outstanding debts.
The club came close to facing a transfer ban due to the purchase of Mathias Rojas from Racing. This punishment was only avoided by selling the player to Inter Miami.
Additionally, the club owes R$ 217 million to agents alone (figures from February 2024).
In this context, Pro Futebol Assessoria Administrativa, owned by businessman Beto Rappa, has requested the seizure of Corinthians’ assets and the freezing of their accounts over a R$ 11.5 million debt from the transfer of Ángel Romero.
There are plenty of stories about Corinthians’ financial difficulties, which have been ongoing for some time.
The reality is, if the recent signings don’t produce the desired results and the club is relegated to Serie B again, it wouldn’t be outlandish to speak of the institution’s complete collapse, as it would be impossible to sustain a wage bill of this magnitude.
Image: Corinthians
Imbalance in the Squad
Another issue to consider is how the funds have been allocated to improve the squad.
Indeed, the arrival of goalkeeper Hugo Souza has been crucial.
In addition, Corinthians strengthened their midfield and attack with Charles, Carillo, Thalles Magno, Alex Santana, José Martinez, Héctor Hernández, and of course, Memphis Depay.
Most of these signings are considered excellent. Many of them are top-level players who can contribute to the team’s improvement.
However, the full-back positions remain severely lacking.
The current options in those positions are Fagner, Matheus Bidu, Matheusinho, Hugo, and Léo Mana. Ecuadorian Diego Palacios suffered a knee injury, and his return date is unknown.
Both of the squad’s full-back positions are below the standard of the rest of the squad, causing significant defensive imbalance.
To compensate, Ramón plays with a back five, featuring André Ramalho, Félix Torres, and Cacá, alongside Fagner and Bidu.
This style of play can work well when the opposing team takes the initiative. But when Corinthians are the ones trying to break down a defence, they struggle to create chances.
When they lose the ball, the defensive transition is slow, leaving the team exposed.
So, do you think the money spent on Memphis Depay would have been better used on two high-quality full-backs? Or will the Dutchman solve all of Corinthians’ problems?
Image: Corinthians
Written by Vitor F L Miller.
