Barça question Memphis’ commitment
The Dutch forward is already believed to be in Amsterdam with permission from the club. At Barça, they suspect that he is reserving himself for the World Cup. His contract ends in June and won’t be renewed.
Although it was already confirmed that he would not play for Barça until after the World Cup, Memphis Depay won’t be cheering the team on from the stands at El Sadar tonight because, according to Mundo Deportivo, he flew back to Holland a few days ago. It will be in his homeland where Memphis will complete his recovery and prepare for the World Cup. The former PSV, Manchester United and Olympique Lyon player fell injured during the last international break back in September during the Netherlands’ Nations League qualifiers. In the 2-0 win against Poland, Depay picked up a hamstring injury that, initially, did not seem too serious but he has yet to reappear for the first team. He asked Xavi for permission to leave Barcelona so that he could finish recovering in Amsterdam to be able to join the national team at almost 100%.
Xavi defends Memphis
“Koundé and Memphis have a problem...” Xavi explained during Monday’s press conference, ahead of the Osasuna game. The situation is already becoming quite clear to some at Camp Nou. Memphis was a first-choice throughout the whole of last season, playing practically every game. But for the past few weeks he has been reluctant to make an effort to return to full fitness and turn out for Barça. It seems that his priority is the Netherlands and being at the World Cup. Xavi defended him, pointing out that Memphis did oush himself to return from injury last season, just as Koundé has done this season. But that was a different time, when Bartomeu and Koeman were still at the club. Now, the debate is about just how committed to the club Depay really is. With only seven months left on his contract, the question is whether he will leave Barça in the January window or wait until he is able to leave as a free agent in June.