Corinthians in crisis as Memphis Depay threatens to walk over unpaid wages

Brazilian giants Corinthians are facing serious backlash from their own star player, Memphis Depay, who has formally raised the alarm over unpaid dues totaling 6.1 million reais (approximately $1.1 million).

The Dutch international of Ghanaian descent, who made a surprise move from Atlético Madrid to Corinthians in September 2024, has reportedly threatened to halt his professional obligations if the club fails to settle the debt immediately.

Depay, 30, signed a two-year deal with the São Paulo-based club, a move that stunned many given his pedigree with clubs like Barcelona, Lyon, and Manchester United.

He quickly became a standout figure, helping Corinthians lift the Campeonato Paulista title in March after a dramatic win over arch-rivals Palmeiras.

However, his relationship with the club has now hit a critical point. According to AfricaSoccer.com, Depay first raised the issue in May, during the tenure of then-club president Augusto Melo, but was allegedly met with silence.

The current leadership claims they were unaware of any outstanding payment requests, including Fabinho Soldado, the club’s football executive who has remained in office through the leadership change.

Internal confusion appears to be worsening the standoff.

An official club statement cited invoice irregularities—specifically around Depay’s June image rights—as the reason for the delay, suggesting the issue was more bureaucratic than intentional.

The tension is further compounded by Corinthians' failure to disburse 4.7 million reais in bonuses promised to the squad after their Paulista championship win.

With the players set to return from vacation this Saturday, the club is under growing pressure to sort out its financial obligations and restore calm within the squad.

With Depay seen as the face of the club’s current rebuild and one of its most marketable assets, any prolonged fallout could deal a heavy blow to Corinthians' ambitions for the upcoming season.