There is no longer a place for Memphis in Barcelona

Memphis celebrates a goal from the previous season against Elche. JOSE JORDAN (AFP)

Looking

due to his daring clothes and also rude due to his tattoos and chiseled muscles, everyone in the Barcelona sports city agrees that Memphis Depay (Moordrecht, the Netherlands; 28 years old) is a good-natured, cheerful person with a smile for greeting , also a player who always put a brave face on bad weather with work, a lot of work, in between.

But the

of attackers has left him between a rock and a hard place, because he knows that the coach does not consider him a starter while the club has suggested that perhaps the best thing is for him to leave to be able to make money - it would only mean income and no amortization-, lighten the wage bill and thus be able to register the signings.

“It should go out”, confirms an official Barcelona source bluntly;

"Not because he is not an appreciated player, but because we have too many in his position."

Signed Raphinha and Lewandowski, renewed Dembélé and ensured the continuity of Ansu, Ferran Torres and Aubameyang, Memphis is already on the exit catwalk, a condition that he accepts with some disgust because he always wanted to succeed in a big game after failing miserably at Manchester United -then he was 21 years old - before becoming a player again at Lyon.

Although he is aware that the World Cup in Qatar is just around the corner and that the

coach , Louis Van Gaal, wants footballers with experience.

Old claim of Ronald Koeman, because since he arrived at the Barça bench he tried to sign him because he brought out his best version when he directed the Dutch team -unsuccessfully in the first winter market but persistently, successfully and for free last summer-, Memphis He understands that he has lost his place in Barcelona.

Although he did it since Xavi arrived.

“Those who make merits and are better will play regardless of their name.

It's about meritocracy and whoever wins it will play", resolved the coach as soon as he took over the

, just when the player was injured in the left biceps femoris, after the Achilles tendon.

And it cost him to enter the team, to the point that he only started in one of the nine following league games.

But the Dutchman turned the situation around in the final sprint.

“Memphis has played because he trains very well.

I want players with that attitude, wanting to make a difference.

Perhaps I have been unfair to him.

If he performs like this, he should play”, explained the coach, also knowing that he was the team's top scorer (he finished the season with 13 goals, like Aubameyang).

In the locker room they were grateful that he never put on a bad face, that he always worked like the best.

“He earned it hand in hand.

We were even surprised that he didn't believe himself more than anyone else, that he made an effort like crazy, that he fought like that for the position”, they now recognize from the offices of the Barça sports city.

"He proved to have personality and a very strong mentality," another source from the club abounds.

Abandoned by his father as a child and taking refuge in the ball to avoid falling into crime because he grew up in a very dangerous neighborhood, no one ever gave him anything.

Neither Xavi nor Barcelona, ​​who, however, appreciate his professionalism.

From the Barça club they are negotiating with Tottenham -the figure could be around 20 million- and they know that there is interest from other entities such as Juventus and Sevilla, which could include him in the Koundé operation.

The player, who is in the United States with the team -this Wednesday they play at 2 in the morning against Inter Miami-, asks for it to be a first-rate club, but he already understands that, at least at the Camp Nou and with the Barça shirt, few goals remain for him to celebrate as usual, closing his eyes and covering his ears, motto of his clothing brand MDC (Memphis Depay Clothing;

) and also a nod to the Ghana Foundation who helps.

A form of resilience in the face of his detractors.

Now, although he doesn't have them at Barça, he knows that he has lost his chair.

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