Ronald Koeman and Nigel de Jong boarded a plane to see Memphis Depay with their own eyes. One problem: the Dutch striker started on the bench in Corinthians’ match against Guarani in the Brazilian Championship.
The national team coach and football director watched from the stands at the Neo Química Arena. The former PSV, Manchester United and FC Barcelona player will be rested, as is customary in the competition. Especially considering the important Copa Libertadores qualifying match.
In four weeks, the Dutch national team will play its first international matches again. With Wout Weghorst’s injury, the options at the top of the attack have become a little scarcer, so Koeman and De Jong are keeping an eye on other players.
One of the candidates is Memphis, who played a key role in Corinthians’ huge rise last season and still needs four goals to become the top scorer in the history of the Dutch team.
Before they could see him in action, the 31-year-old star had to give a kind look to coach Ramon Diaz, who also benched fellow striker Yuri Alberto. After an hour of play, Memphis finally took the field with a 1-2 deficit.
There is one more chance to see Memphis in action before the international break, in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores qualifiers on February 27. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.
Nations League game of 20 March
Koeman may decide to call up Memphis for the Dutch national team again for the upcoming international period. The Dutch team will play against Spain in the quarter finals of the Nations League on 20 and 23 March.
Koeman already indicated during the last international period in November that Memphis is an option for the next matches of the Dutch team. “If Memphis continues like this, he will be in the picture in March”, Koeman said.
“I have also spoken to him about that. If there is an international with whom I have good contact, it is Memphis”, the national coach said. He will probably not be able to call on the injured Ajax striker Wout Weghorst for the match against Spain.
Memphis can reach milestones with Oranje
Memphis has not been part of the Oranje selection since the European Championship last summer. The 31-year-old attacker joined Corinthians in September, which has since climbed from the bottom regions to seventh place in the Brazilian competition.
If Memphis is called up for Oranje again, he can break several milestones. The 98-time international still needs two international matches to reach the special limit of one hundred caps.
Moreover, the honorary title of top scorer of all time for Oranje is still a realistic goal. Memphis has now scored 46 times for the Netherlands. Robin van Persie currently leads the list with 50 goals in 102 international matches.
Back to the question you posed in prior thread—as to who is the CF going forward—Koeman traveled to Brazil to look in on at Memphis. And according to the attached article, he is playing well.
https://apnews.com/article/depay-brazil-corinthians-netherlands-67e0822a449aa61ce51049467336dc3e
It just shows he wants to save his ssss and is desperately try to make it look like Memphis can salavage his sinking boat. it’s not gonna happen. Just wasting time like he called up wijnaldum. Just shud resign so a new coach from now can experience NT with new options. Rather than trying to go with old legs who is not getting any younger. I’m sure Depay will come back to eredivisie next season or might end at a club with Dutch coach and koeman will call him for World Cup only to hit his own foot with fork again. Shud have gone to watch piroe in championship who look set to play epl next season. Why don’t think out of the box and invest in him now.
good article on ihattaren
https://www.facebook.com/share/1A4JwiEZaA/?
Being called up for JO