Former Man United Star Memphis Depay Under Fire as Corinthians Faces Relegation Battle

Former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay is facing intense criticism as his club, Corinthians, battles to avoid relegation from the Brazilian top flight. The Brazilian giants currently sit 16th in the league after suffering eight consecutive defeats, including a recent 4-1 loss to second-placed Palmeiras.

The club has also seen a change in leadership, with legendary Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf appointed as the new head coach. Seedorf takes over from Fernando Diniz, who was sacked last week. This marks Seedorf's return to coaching after a seven-year hiatus, having previously managed the Cameroon national team and had stints with AC Milan, Shenzhen FC, and Deportivo La Coruna.

According to Brazilian newspaper Globo, Corinthians sought Depay's approval before confirming Seedorf's appointment, a move that reportedly followed rejections from several other coaching candidates.

Depay, who joined Corinthians in 2024, was a key player last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists to help the club win the Copa do Brasil and the Supercopa do Brasil. However, his performance this season has seen a significant drop, with only one goal and two assists in 23 appearances.

Craque Neto, a former Corinthians player and current radio commentator, has been particularly critical, identifying Depay as a primary reason for the team's struggles. "For me, he [Depay] is the biggest incompetent and he'll stay that way," Neto stated on Radio Craque Neto. "It's unbelievable what he's doing to Corinthians. It hurts, it makes you want to cry to see the prestige he has, he's set the club on fire."

Neto also expressed skepticism regarding Seedorf's appointment, questioning the choice of a coach with a long absence from the dugout. "Now they've hired Clarence Seedorf, who's also Dutch. This company, whose name I don't even know, has hired Seedorf," he added. "They're going to destroy Corinthians, they're all opportunists, that's what's happening. For me, Memphis is the main culprit for what's currently happening at Corinthians."

Corinthians director of football, Marcelo Paz, has defended Seedorf's arrival, emphasizing his leadership qualities and winning mentality. "A name like Seedorf's transcends," Paz said. "It's not that he arrived somehow, it's a name we had access to, we identified him as a leader, a winner, a guy who decided to resume his coaching career. ... It's important for us to have someone who has the desire, and he wanted to. We understand that he's a guy who will arrive with a lot of energy, spirit, and knowledge."

Seedorf is set to manage his first match as Corinthians host Vitoria next Monday. With eight games remaining in the season, Corinthians are only above the relegation zone due to a tie-breaker advantage over Internacional, with both teams having 32 points.