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International breaks are always a hectic period for clubs and managers alike, as players travel across continents to represent their countries.
Clubs in Europe, including Manchester United, often find themselves juggling squad rotations and injury concerns while stars are away.
Any disruption to a player’s availability can have a ripple effect on both club preparations and the national team’s plans.
Travel issues, documentation problems, and other unforeseen circumstances often add to the challenges faced during these windows.
For former Red Devils stars now plying their trade internationally, even a minor hiccup can delay integration with their national squads and affect matchday selections.
Memphis Depay, who enjoyed a spell at Manchester United before moving on to Lyon and later Barcelona, missed his flight from Brazil due to his passport being stolen, as per ESPN Netherlands.
As a result, the striker will join the Dutch national team later and will definitely not start in the match against Malta, according to national coach Ronald Koeman.
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The KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association), as relied by ESPN, confirmed that the Netherlands’ all-time top scorer is doing everything he can to travel to the Netherlands as soon as possible.
He is expected to land at Schiphol Airport tomorrow morning and then be able to join the squad.
According to Koeman, Memphis Depay had attempted to board the plane without his passport, but “that obviously didn’t work.”
Koeman commented on the situation: “This is unfortunate, primarily for Memphis, but also for us.
“You naturally want to start preparing for an international break with a full squad.
“At the same time, there’s a case of force majeure.”
The Dutch national team will face World Cup qualifying matches against Malta on October 9 and Finland on October 12 during this international window.
Depay’s delayed arrival is a significant blow for Koeman, who had hoped to integrate his squad immediately and build momentum ahead of these fixtures.
Depay moved on from United but now plies his trade with Corinthians.
For Manchester United fans, this incident serves as a reminder of the time Depay spent at Old Trafford and the talent he showcased during his tenure at the club.
While he is no longer wearing the Red Devils shirt, his performances for the Netherlands continue to draw attention, and any disruption to his international commitments inevitably sparks conversation back in England.