Ex-Man Utd striker Depay takes pay cut to stay at Corinthians

What the report says

Memphis Depay has agreed to accept a pay cut so he can stay at Corinthians, after the Brazilian club had recently decided not to renew his contract. BBC Sport reports that the former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid forward, who joined Corinthians in 2024, had previously criticised the club over what he described as unacceptable behaviour when an extension was withdrawn.

Corinthians president Osmar Stabile said the Netherlands international reduced his financial demands significantly during talks, allowing both sides to reach a new agreement. The deal is reported to run until 2028 and was described by the club as a compromise that better fits its finances. Corinthians are currently ninth in Brazil’s Serie A.

The BBC says Depay has scored 20 goals in 79 appearances for the Sao Paulo side and helped them win the Copa do Brasil in 2025 and the Supercopa do Brasil this year. According to ESPN Brasil, cited by BBC Sport, the revised arrangement includes a reduction in money owed to Depay, with the remaining balance to be paid in instalments. The development matters because it resolves a contract dispute involving one of the best-known foreign players in Brazilian football and shows Corinthians prioritising financial control while keeping an experienced attacker.