Xavi does not want a departure from Memphis Depay at Barcelona. At the press conference prior to the cup match with CF Intercity, the coach announced that Memphis will get enough playing minutes in the coming months.
“I don’t want to see anyone leave. It looks like it will be a quiet transfer period and I’m happy about that,” Xavi made clear. “Memphis will be important to the team and will make minutes, just like all the other players.” Competitor Robert Lewandowski is not in the selection for the cup match against the third divisionist. So Memphis has a view of a starting place.
The lure of a free transfer
The Orange international has an expiring contract and is seen by the Spanish media as one of the most important candidates for an outgoing transfer, which can make room for possible reinforcements. Memphis has not played a major role in Xavi’s plans so far: he was on the bench for the first four league games in the current season and then injured after two appearances in La Liga. When La Liga resumed against Espanyol, he remained on the bench for ninety minutes on New Year’s Eve.
However, director Jordi Cruijff emphasized last month that Memphis ‘has always performed excellently’. And that ‘a fit Memphis can be of service to any club’. Mundo Deportivo already wrote that Memphis itself is looking for a longer stay at the club. In that case, he has more time to think about his future. Moreover, as a transfer-free player, he can earn a better contract, because his new club does not spend money on a transfer fee.
Despite all the speculation about his future at Camp Nou. With potential options like AS Roma and Newcastle United/ Memphis is happy to be back in Barcelona. “Glad to be home. The spirit is good, the intensity is high,” he said on Twitter. “I was born to make mistakes, not pretend to be perfect.”
