Memphis Depay Issues Statement Following Unusual Incident During Match

Memphis Depay, now playing for Corinthians, recently drew attention for an unusual reason during a match against Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A. The former Manchester United forward was seen using his phone on the bench during stoppage time of the 1‑1 match, which amused and puzzled many fans.

The 32-year-old left the game early due to injury, exiting the pitch in the 22nd minute. Later, cameras captured him scrolling on his phone before a coach approached him, apparently to address the situation.

Footage showed the coach seemingly reprimanding Depay, who then put his phone away. This moment quickly circulated online, prompting various reactions and questions about what he was doing.

In response, Depay took to X to clarify the incident, stating, “My moment with the phone was purely to communicate with the medical staff in the Netherlands.” He added that he wanted to support his team rather than stay in the dressing room due to his injury. He expressed disappointment with the match result and emphasized the team’s commitment to improvement.

Depay noted he was not distracted; he was actually in touch with medical personnel about his injury while staying with his teammates. This incident isn’t the first time he has made headlines off the field. His transition to Brazilian football included a reunion with former United teammate Jesse Lingard, who also joined Corinthians earlier this year.

Lingard’s move raised eyebrows as he sought new challenges after playing for West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. For now, Depay and Corinthians are looking to recover from the draw and aim for better results, hoping he will be fully fit soon.