Last month, Barcelona officially signed Memphis Depay for the 2021/22 La Liga season. The striker also accepted a pay cut, three weeks after signing a contract with the Catalan club. During international duty with the Netherlands at Euro 2020, Depay agreed to a free transfer move to Camp Nou last month following the expiration of his contract with Lyon. Memphis made his first appearance at Barcelona taking a 30% pay cut.
The 27-year-old caught the eye again last season with 20 Ligue 1 goals, and he has now agreed to a two-year deal in Catalonia, where he will be reunited with former La Oranje head coach Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman joined Spanish giants after a four-year stint at Lyon, where he scored 60 goals in 139 appearances. Alongside Depay, Barca signed Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia from Manchester City.
The former Manchester United winger is expected to return to full pre-season training in the coming days after his post-tournament break. “I just came from vacation and now is the time to focus again. I want to start the season well and be totally focused here. I will try to adapt as quickly as possible,” he told an interview with the club website.
Memphis, the new Barcelona signing, is frequently referred to by his full name, but that is not how the forward prefers it. Since his signing Memphis is introduced by his full name, which includes the legal surname Depay. However, the forward has already stated that he does not want to be referred to by that name because of his family history.
Speaking to the BBC following his decision to drop his surname in 2012, he said of his father, who abandoned him when he was four years of age: “I will never forgive him. Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis.
“No, I don’t want to explain exactly what happened at home because I don’t want to make people feel ashamed. And that’s how it will remain because I’ve already moved on.” Memphis has arrived in Barcelona for pre-season after his official unveiling on Monday.
