Memphis Depay arrived in Brazil this Wednesday and caused a stir throughout the country, especially in the city of São Paulo, of course. A bunch of Corinthians fans, his new club, went to welcome him at dawn at Guarulhos International Airport, and in the afternoon, the buzz of his arrival increased even more when he went to visit the club’s social headquarters, which he reached by air…
It was a helicopter that transported Depay to Parque São Jorge, where Corinthians has its social headquarters. Half a bit of show and half a reality: the traffic in São Paulo, the capital of Brazil and the most populous city in Latin America (approximately 45.9 million inhabitants according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) is chaotic.
And there you could see Depay landing in a suit directly on the grass of the stadium that the club has in Parque São Jorge, where the professional team trains. After getting off the helicopter, he was greeted by Augusto Melo, president of Corinthians, with whom he took a picture alongside the team’s jersey before heading directly into the facilities to learn part of the club’s history.
There on the pitch, the 30-year-old Dutchman also took photos with the Corinthians fans and was escorted by a lot of supporters while he toured the surroundings of the field. Complete frenzy for the former Atlético de Madrid (he was under the orders of Diego Simeone), who will be managed in Timao by Ramón Díaz.
“Good evening everyone, this is Memphis, I am very excited to see you at Neo Química Arena. Vai, Corinthians! Vai! (Let’s go, Corinthians, let’s go),” Depay expressed through a video that the club shared on its social media shortly after. Corinthians will play this Wednesday night against Juventude at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil, aiming to overturn the result from the first leg (1-2). And the Dutchman will be present there, although not yet as a player…
Memphis Depay –
This is how Memphis Depay arrived at the Corinthians social headquarters
Depay, the blockbuster signing for Corinthians in this transfer market
The 30-year-old forward, who played in the last Eurocup with the Netherlands, signed a contract until December 2026. Flamengo also wanted him to replace the injured Pedro, but the São Paulo team won the race.
Hours before the official announcement, Corinthians started giving hints: someone eating a Dutch pie, the club’s jersey in Amsterdam, and then yes, the most awaited photo for the delight of Paulista fans: Memphis in his new gear. Even Conmebol Sudamericana welcomed him. According to sources from Brazil, Depay will earn a salary close to six million dollars per season.
A former PSV, Lyon, Manchester United, and Barcelona player, Depay will try his luck in Brazilian football. He will need to help Ramón’s team stay in the top division (currently in the relegation zone) in the Brasileirao. The other major objective is to lift the Sudamericana trophy. In the quarter-finals, he will face Fortaleza, and if he advances to the semi-finals, he will have the chance to face Athletico Paranaense or Racing. A two-time World Cup player (2014 and 2022) with the Netherlands (98 matches and 46 goals), when will Memphis make his debut?
Depay arriving in São Paulo. (Photo: EFE/ Sebastião Moreira)
Depay arriving in São Paulo. (Photo: REUTERS)
