End of Memphis Depay's Adventure in Brazil?
Due to difficulties faced by the main sponsor of Corinthians, the former Lyon player might leave his new club prematurely. Memphis Depay is in an unstable situation, not because his performance has been poor or he is on the brink at Corinthians, but because the Brazilian club may soon be unable to pay the Dutchman.
According to journalist Paulo Vinícius Coelho from the magazine Finances of Sport, Corinthians' main sponsor, Esportes da Sorte, is under investigation by the Brazilian government, which has reportedly frozen its activities. Authorities have warned the club of the urgent need to change sponsors as soon as possible. "Corinthians do not plan to remove Esportes da Sorte from the jersey for now, but they know they must," reports the Brazilian journalist.
A Problematic Salary
This issue directly impacts Memphis Depay, as Esportes da Sorte finances 9.5 million euros of the Dutch international's salary, which represents a little over 20% of his agreement with the São Paulo club (51.3 million euros over three years). Without their sponsor, Corinthians will not be able to sustain the payment unless they face an untenable financial situation. The Brazilian management is already seeking a company capable of committing to an equivalent amount, as Depay represents a genuine marketing asset. "From a marketing standpoint, Memphis has changed the atmosphere at Corinthians, has changed the fans' atmosphere," added Paulo Vinícius Coelho.
At 30, Memphis Depay, who earns around 548,000 dollars per month, has committed to the Brazilian institution until December 31, 2026. A date he is now uncertain to reach due to how events are unfolding. Since his transfer, the former Lyon player has played 4 games, providing 2 assists.
