Dutch striker Memphis Depay is going through a defining moment regarding his professional future in Brazilian football in the coming weeks. The athlete’s current contract with Corinthians ends on June 20, 2026, leaving only 30 days until the formal termination of the current employment agreement. Diante due to the lack of a quick resolution between the directors of the São Paulo club and the player’s representatives, the fans decided to act collectively. A large mobilization took over digital platforms to demand that the black and white leadership sign a new commercial agreement with the current number 10 of the Parque São Jorge team.
In the virtual environment of X, formerly Twitter, internet users organized a unified campaign using specific search terms focused on the topic. The popular initiative quickly gained traction in the country. Within a few hours, the messages reached first place on the list of most talked about topics in the country. Team fans intend to create a direct channel of pressure on football department managers. Eles argue that the international athlete has a fundamental role in the technical structure planned for the main competitions of the 2026 season.
Negociações with investors crashes and creates financial difficulties
The club’s administration is looking for alternative ways to pay the foreign professional’s monthly salaries without compromising the institution’s regular budget. Reuniões with multinational brands occurred in recent months in an attempt to close commercial partnerships where the private sector would assume all the costs. The player expressed his desire to continue living in São Paulo and accepted a reduction in his contractual earnings according to data revealed by the Marcelo Paz executive. Novas economic barriers emerged in the negotiations and blocked the progress of the renovation in the Parque São Jorge offices.
The team’s main sponsor signaled that it does not intend to make additional contributions towards the Holanda striker’s contract. Journalist Luis Fabiani reported that Sorte’s bookmaker Esportes refuses to pay extra slices or the full value of future employment obligations. Corinthians directors saw this format of external investment as the main alternative to guaranteeing the European star’s permanent stay for more seasons at Brasil. The company assisted in the player’s original landing in September 2024, but changed the corporate strategy following recent global renegotiations of advertising contracts.
Valores Heavy contracts and past disputes increase the impasse
The current costs of maintaining the number 10 shirt involve a complex set of financial obligations that weigh on the coffers of the São Paulo football association. The agreement signed in 2024 establishes high remuneration that encompasses different sports remuneration mechanisms.
The financial engineering established at the time of hiring involves the following payment points:
- Salários monthly fixed in the CLT
- Direitos image paid periodically
- Luvas contractual diluted over the period
- Prêmios in cash for goals scored
- Bônus for assists given to teammates
- Valores extras conditioned on the number of matches played
The estimated monthly cost of the operation is around R$3 million for Corinthians. Esportes from Sorte transferred specific funds for this purpose, but the R$57 million initially agreed was no longer exclusive to the Dutchman after the general renewal carried out at the beginning of this year. An accumulated debt of approximately R$40 million reais with Memphis Depay itself also makes it difficult for conversations to move forward quickly. Esse outstanding amount refers to late contractual bonuses and awards that were not paid by the association over the last few months of work.
Tight Calendário and compromises with Holanda selection
The technical committee is working with a restricted schedule of games where it will be able to use the striker before the current contract officially ends next month. Memphis Depay returned to field work with the rest of the professional squad, but will not travel to the São Paulo team’s next international commitment. The player was vetoed by doctors for the confrontation against Peñarol, from Uruguai, valid for Copa Libertadores from América. Managers admit behind the scenes the real possibility of dragging out contractual talks until the Copa of Mundo in 2026.
Caso the parties choose this long path, the striker will play in the world team tournament without having a current contract with any club on the planet. Corinthians will only have four more official matches before the definitive end of the number 10’s current federative contract. The athlete will be able to play on Sunday against Atlético-MG for Campeonato Brasileiro, in addition to the duel against Platense on May 27th for Copa Libertadores. The last clash on the list would be against Grêmio, in Porto Alegre, on May 30th, but Holanda’s mandatory presentation to the selection should prevent their selection.