"He is an extraordinary player, I hope he will still be there next season," says Rudi Garcia, about Memphis Depay.
Between Coué method and bottle in the sea. One thing is certain: the 27-year-old Dutch international will be free at the end of the season.
And until further notice, he has no plans to extend.
Not right away anyway… If he had to leave the Rhône during the summer, fans of Jean-Michel Aulas' club could not blame him, however.
The former PSV and Manchester United never hid, he never dangled things to buy social peace.
And if they had had the means, the bosses of Barça and Ronald Koeman would undoubtedly have shortened his passage to Lyon from the last offseason… “Lyon is a great club, but it is not one of the best five in Europe.
I want to go to a club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich, ”he said without batting an eyelid in 2019, in the columns of a Dutch magazine.
Barcelona, Juventus and PSG in line?
And precisely, the big clubs seem to jostle at the gate.
Barça of course.
There is also talk of an interest of Juventus and… of PSG, opponent of OL this Sunday (9 p.m., live commented), on behalf of the last match of the 30th day of Ligue 1. “He's a competitor direct, so it is obviously an important match, indicates the Lyon captain.
The other matches were important, but this one is even more so. "
And for good reason, Paris and Lyon are tied before this duel (60 pts), behind Lille and in front of Monaco (the ranking here).
The loser, if there is one, could bite his fingers.
A draw at the Parc OL would also do nobody's business, if not for the teams of Christophe Galtier and Niko Kovac ...
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Still, Memphis did not have the heart to fuel rumors about his future on Friday, at a press conference.
“I want to focus on this game, not the future.
I don't wonder if it's my last game or not, ”he insists.
Others are asking the question for him, and a big performance against the vice-champions of Europe could not hurt his rating on the market, that's for sure.
According to
Le Parisien
, Memphis is not necessarily a priority for PSG at the moment, but it could quickly become so if Kylian Mbappé, Julian Draxler or another offensive element were to leave the capital this summer.
A player of this caliber available without transfer compensation, it does not run the streets.
And Leonardo would be wrong not to think about this option, as he will undoubtedly do for other stars at the end of their contract, from Lionel Messi to Sergio Ramos, via “Kun” Aguero.
"For the moment, Memphis is at the end of the contract but he has not left, assures President Aulas, still in the columns of the Ile-de-France daily.
Our extension proposals remain valid even if at time T, they have not been validated. ”
"If Rudi Garcia had arrived earlier, I could have done even better"
Memphis depay
In any case, Memphis Depay is not disturbed by the uncertainty about its future.
He is perhaps having his best Lyon season, with 15 goals and 9 assists on the clock.
Above all, he is now consistent in his performance.
And he fully assumes his role as captain.
All good.
“Honestly, if Rudi Garcia had arrived earlier, I could have done even better,” he says.
He gave me a lot of confidence and responsibility.
Players like me want to give it their all in these kinds of cases, and in the past there was a lack of trust, of communication.
I'm not saying that against Bruno Genesio, a good coach.
But we weren't always on the same wavelength. "
Memphis, always frank in front of the microphones, even if it means not to please everyone… And the Oranje striker is no more afraid on the meadow.
Even against the PSG of his friend Neymar.
"We are not afraid of anyone, but it would be stupid to underestimate the PSG", he slips.
The winning goal signed Neymar in Lyon in 2019 (video)
OL's epic in the Champions League last summer in Lisbon, when Memphis had just returned from a cruciate ligament rupture, did not strengthen the confidence of the Gones in their ability to exist in the big meetings.
Memphis Depay has never lacked confidence.
He has plenty of it and strives to pass it on to his teammates.
Enough to offer OL one last gift in the form of a title before perhaps leaving for other skies?
Remember that Lyon has not won anything since the Coupe de France and the Champions Trophy, in 2012. It did not go far last July, with a penalty shootout in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, against PSG.
Memphis and company have since taken their revenge.
It was in the first leg in L1 (1-0 victory).
“We left this victory in 2020,” he assures us.
It's possible to win, we know.
So we want to do it (this) Sunday.
It's a new challenge. ”
The Memphis game?
It remains to be seen what Memphis's role will be in this game.
In major meetings, Rudi Garcia sometimes asked him to put on the warming blue by sacrificing his talent on the altar of the collective.
"I want him to play his role of captain and leader of attack", assures the Lyon coach, delighted to be able to count on this "world top-player".
“My role will be to play the match, eludes the main person concerned.
I think that in big matches, you have to sacrifice your own playing philosophy. PSG are often dominant with the ball.
We will try to have possession more than them, but normally my role will not change: I will try to be important for the team, fight and create opportunities for myself. "
Remember that in the first leg, it was especially the three in the middle, Lucas Paqueta, Thiago Mendes and Houssem Aouar, who had shone.
This time, will it be the Memphis Depay game?
It would be a good sign for OL, that's for sure ...
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