Before playing his last match with OL against Nice on Sunday, at Groupama Stadium, Memphis Depay gave an interview to L’Équipe which appeared in the newspaper on Friday. A few weeks before the end of his contract, the Dutchman makes a beautiful declaration of love for OL and talks about his future.
Four and a half years after arriving in Lyon, Memphis Depay will be packing for good. At the end of the contract in a little over a month, the Dutch striker will leave OL and will be free to sign up wherever he sees fit. Two days before his 178th and last match for Lyon, Sunday against Nice on the last day of Ligue 1, Depay gave an interview to L’Équipe, published in this Friday’s edition.
Arrived at 23 in the Rhône, Depay explains having “changed and grown. Here, I became a man”. A 27-year-old man who comes to a turning point in his career and has made Lyon “[sa] House. It feels weird to think that this is my last game here. “While some optimistic Lyon supporters were still hoping to see Depay extend at OL, this interview was a goodbye, before the Dutchman immersed himself in the preparation for the Euro which he will dispute with the Netherlands.
“I liked everything, the club, the stadium, the supporters”
But until then, “the only thing that matters is to qualify OL for the Champions League”, insists Depay. Because the best Lyon player of the season wants to return to the club which allowed him to confirm at a higher level after showing great promise at PSV Eindhoven at the start of his career. “I can leave with lots of good feelings: I gave everything, and in return, the club made me again happy to be a footballer. I liked everything, the club, the stadium, the supporters”, explains Depay.
A beautiful tribute, which also extends to Jean-Michel Aulas: “The president, really, is a magnificent man, whom everyone respects here, and I wanted to tell him that I was very happy that he told me. brought here. ” Finally, after four and a half seasons at Lyon, Depay claims to have only one regret: “When I look back today, I miss a trophy. It’s very difficult for me to tell myself that I won nothing in Lyon. “
FC Barcelona interested, other clubs as well
After the beautiful declaration of love for OL, Depay also spoke about his future. “I’m going to have to prove to the three or four biggest European clubs that I can do the same thing (22 goals and 10 assists in a season, editor’s note) at home. That’s my goal. I want to go to the one of the two or three best clubs of the five big European leagues. Where it will be, I do not know yet, it is not yet clear but it is my goal, “said the Dutchman to L’Équipe.
The Lyonnais confirmed the interest of FC Barcelona, ”but other clubs are also (interested, note). And there is nothing done”. A start in Catalonia will certainly depend on the future of Ronald Koeman, in the hot seat for Barça. Depay, who recently separated from his agents to negotiate his next contract himself, nevertheless wishes to delay: “I am going to focus on the Euro, and I am in no hurry. It is a decision that deserves to be taken into account. be thoughtful. “
A pivotal decision for the 27-year-old, who will have to confirm his qualities in his next club, after a complicated first visit to Manchester United between 2015 and 2017. Too young during his transfer to the Red Devils, Depay was relaunched on the side of Lyon. Four and a half years later, it is marked with the seal of OL that he will continue his career, in Ligue 1 or elsewhere.
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