Memphis, the seventh passenger
The situation
Memphis Depay does not lose his humor. The cameras of Barça TV caught him smiling this Saturday, stealing something from his teammate Frenkie de Jong in his seat on the plane that was taking him to the United States . But like his compatriot, and perhaps more so, he knows that his days are numbered at the Barça club, where he arrived last year full of hope, but also realism. Perhaps aware that Koeman would not last long, he signed for two years to own his future. That he arrived at zero cost also influenced that short contract with a financially suffocated club. Memphis, Barça’s top scorer last season, is now the seventh striker in the Barcelona squad. He is only ahead of Braithwaite , who didn’t even travel to Miami. But he is right behind Raphinha, Dembélé , Ferran, Ansu, Aubameyang and newcomer Lewandowski. Conclusion, he has to solve his future. Barcelona wouldn’t mind turning it into a bargaining chip for the Koundé operation, but Monchi doesn’t like the Memphis file, which is worth around five million euros net, a prohibited salary on Sevilla’s salary scale (unless Barcelona takes care of more than half).
The details
The azulgrana would like to enter some 20 million for the striker, but it will not be easy because the pan for the handle is Depay, who has a poster (he has already played in three major leagues, Spain , France and England; and was wanted by Juventus in Italy) and wants to choose his future well. Of course, his departure is guaranteed because what the former Lyon player does not want to put at risk in any case is the World Cup. For that, he has to play now because the Nations League, the last test before the Qatar meeting, takes place in the last week of September. For now, he remains in the discipline of the first team and I’m sure that Xavi will give him minutes. He had a professional behavior last season in which, paradoxically, he was Koeman ‘s executor for the penalty he missed in Vallecas ; and then he won two games against Xavi against Espanyol and Elchewith two maximum penalties. The incredible winks of football that the coach values.