Why Memphis doesn’t want to be called Depay

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 20 Jun 2021 05:53 CDT
• 3 min read

New Barcelona signing Memphis refuses to have his father’s surname on his shirt, but why?

Since 2012, the Dutch attacker has had Memphis printed on the back of his jersey.

Why does Memphis not have Depay on his shirt?

This decision was taken in order to remove all connections to his birth-father’s surname.

Memphis was born to a Ghanaian father, Dennis, and Dutch mother, Cora.

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However, Dennis abandoned the family when Memphis was just four years old and this is something that the footballer can never forget.

"I will never forgive him," Memphis previously told the BBC.

"Do not call me Depay, call me Memphis.

"No, I don't want to explain exactly what happened at home because I don't want to make people feel ashamed. And that's how it will remain because I've already moved on."

It was reported in 2020 that Memphis had reconciled with his father, with the player tweeting: “Me and my dad came back together to settle things a couple years ago. Now more than ever we need to find love and strength in each other!”

However, since then Memphis has continued to not sport his father’s surname on the back of his jersey.

Memphis completes Barcelona move

One of us. #MemphisCuler pic.twitter.com/py04wpFJbf

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 20, 2021

On Saturday, the 27-year-old completed his Bosman transfer to Barcelona.

He signed a two-year contract at Camp Nou, bringing to an end four successful years in Ligue 1 with Lyon.

Lyon signed Depay in 2017 for a nominal fee following a poor spell at Manchester United, but over the course of the last four seasons the forward has rebuilt his reputation with some stunning performances for the Ligue 1 side.

In 178 games for the French giants, Depay bagged no less than 76 goals and 55 assists, alongside multiple individual awards.

Depay marks the third high-profile signing for Barcelona in this summer’s transfer window, following the arrival of Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero from Manchester City on free contracts, alongside the return of right wing-back Emerson Royal from a loan spell at Betis.