Former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay was at the centre of a brawl before lifting his first title in Brazil
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Memphis Depay of Corinthians looks on
Memphis Depay couldn't make it at Manchester United but has won his first title in Brazil - and not without controversy
(Image: Adriana Spaca/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
Manchester United flop Memphis Depay, now playing Corinthians in Brazil, has just helped his latest club secure a first title in six years. He was also the cause of a huge brawl in the final minutes of a heated derby match against local rivals Palmeiras.
The first signing of the Louis van Gaal spell of Man United's post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, Depay arrived for £25m with great promise as an Eredevisie winner and golden boot winner.
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Yet, as many players have experienced over the past decade, it would turn out the step to Old Trafford was one too big to master.
Between the ages of 21 and 23 he would spend two-and-a-half seasons with Man United, making 53 appearances in total with seven goals and four assists returned. Struggles culminated in a switch to Lyon, at that point under Jose Mourinho's watch.
"I did what I had to do in training. Of course, I didn't understand his choices, but he was the boss. I had to accept those choices. I think I was not good enough for him. But it's okay, I'm showing my quality here.
"I'll be back to the top and we'll see what will happen," he said in the following months from France.
Overall Depay can look back on his career with fondness as he found the game time he felt was lacking in England elsewhere. After establishing himself a favourite in France he tackled Spain, winning La Liga with Barcelona before playing for Atletico Madrid.
Just a matter of days ago he also reached a century of appearances for the Dutch national team.
Now 31, he plies his trade with Corinthians in Brazil, who overnight drew the second of their two-legged Sau Paulo state championship final against fierce rivals Palmeiras 0-0, having won the first encounter by a single goal.
Playing the entirety of both legs it was Depay's first trophy in the country, Corinthians' first triumph since 2019 and the 31st in the club's history.
And the eyes of Brazil were cast upon Man United's former attacker as his side sought to hold on during the second leg's 18 minutes of injury time. Wasting time by taking the ball towards the corner flag, he faced up former West Ham playmaker Felipe Anderson and stood on the ball with two feet, holding his arms out to balance.
With Palmeiras' squad taking exception to this showboating, a number rushed to Depay in anger. Tensions were already high as each team had already seen a man sent off plus the eventual losers had missed from the penalty spot, and so the 31-year-old's actions served to be the starting point of a huge on-field altercation.
Corinthians and Palmeiras had one more player sent off each - both had rushed into the subsequent brawl from their respective benches - though Depay surprisingly went unpunished for his part in the matter.
He would of course go on to have the last laugh over his new rivals by lifting the trophy at the end of the heated battle.