Netherlands striker Memphis Depay anticipates that extra European soccer stars will comply with his lead and be part of the Brazilian league forward of the 2026 World Cup.
In his first press convention as a Corinthians participant on Thursday, the 30-year-old Depay didn’t disclose his causes for transferring to South America.
Depay, who signed a two-year cope with Corinthians, was launched to followers on Wednesday night earlier than his new crew’s 3-1 victory over Juventude in a Brazilian Cup match, securing their spot within the semifinals.
“This is bigger than football,” Depay said at the club’s NeoQuimica Arena. “A number of stars come from Brazil, massive soccer gamers. It is the mecca of soccer. Kids in Europe look as much as Brazil and the way in which you play and embrace life.”
Other European gamers who’ve performed in Brazil embrace Clarence Seedorf at Botafogo, Serbian Dejan Petkovic, who performed for a number of golf equipment and stays a hero for Flamengo followers, and Frenchman Dimitri Payet, presently at Vasco da Gama.
FIFA data present a mean of 1,000 Brazilian footballers go away the nation yearly, lots of them transferring to Europe.
“It is a great moment to bridge that gap to the other side of the world,” Depay added. “We all the time come to take Brazilian abilities to Europe as a result of they’ve one thing particular. This league wants a lightweight from the opposite facet.”
Depay hasn’t performed for the reason that European Championship in July, the place the Dutch had been knocked out by England within the semifinal.
“I need to get my rhythm back,” Depay said when asked if playing regularly in Brazil was crucial for his plans with the national team. “(Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman) will examine this league and discover out it’s a aggressive one.”
Depay mentioned he acquired recommendation about coming to Brazil from Neymar, Vinicius Júnior, and his private chef, who’s Brazilian.
“On the opposite facet of the world, they do not know all this (in Brazil), they simply comply with European golf equipment. It is time that they see. Brazilians have one thing particular; I believe the league will shine to the opposite facet of the world. It is time to point out its potential, and I believe it’s going to occur within the subsequent few years,” Depay mentioned.
Asked persistently about his causes for coming to Brazil, he replied: “It is a choice that’s pushed by a variety of pressure behind it. It goes past my understanding. I can’t specific how I really feel now.”
Depay had spells at Manchester United, Lyon, and Barcelona earlier than becoming a member of Atlético Madrid.
Corinthians is combating to keep away from relegation within the Brazilian league, with 13 rounds remaining. The crew is within the semifinals of the Brazilian Cup and the quarterfinals of Copa Sudamericana, South America’s second most prestigious membership event.
The Dutch striker will put on jersey No. 94 within the Brazilian league, a reference to the yr he was born, and No. 7 within the Copa Sudamericana.
Source: www.dailysabah.com