- 21 Dec 2024
Lyon ready to ‘accept it’ if Memphis Depay leaves for Barcelona
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 19 May 2021 15:24 BST
- 5 min read
Lyon have indicated that there will be no hard feelings towards Memphis Depay should he leave on a free transfer to Barcelona in the summer.
Netherlands international Depay’s deal with the club is up after a successful four-and-a-half year stay, during which he helped OL to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019/20.
READ MORE: Barcelona target Memphis Depay is like Tom Brady, claims Lyon boss
Barca are the club leading the push to sign the former Manchester United star, having narrowly missed out on a deal last summer. He is also associated with Paris Saint-Germain.
While Lyon have indicated that their offer will be on the table for Memphis until the last, they have also said that he can depart with their best wishes.
“Concerning Memphis Depay, I’ve got nothing to reproach him for,” president Jean-Michel Aulas told the media on Tuesday as he confirmed centre-back Marcelo had signed an extension with the club.
“I know that Memphis has remained in a good frame of mind for the club, he has been assumed his responsibilities and has made an effort. He has remained at the level of international player and is doing well in his role as captain. We put him in the best position to return at his level of the 2014 World Cup.
“I respect his choices. If he has to leave for a bigger club than OL, I will accept it.”
Depay’s top Lyon moments
Depay, meanwhile, will continue to help Lyon push for a first Ligue 1 title in more than a decade.
He has helped them to third in the standings, just three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain with eight matches remaining, while the minimum that PSG expect is a spot in the Champions League, which requires a top-three finish.
On Saturday, they travel to fifth-placed Lens.
Depay’s long-term future, however, increasingly appears to be away from Lyon, with Barcelona hot favourites to sign him due to the influence of head coach Ronald Koeman, whose own position is looking more secure after a positive run of results.
