Memphis Depay has clinched his next move as a free agent, seven years after leaving Manchester United.
Memphis Depay has made the surprise move to sign with Brazilian club Corinthians, following his most recent spell with Atletico Madrid.
The Dutch international, 30, signed for United in 2015 under Louis van Gaal, and featured briefly under Jose Mourinho before being sold to Lyon.
Another former United forward, Anthony Martial, has been linked with a move to Flamengo, but this is not as advanced as Depay’s now completed move.
Depay’s move adds to an increasing trend of former United players leaving European football, for careers further afield.
Alex Telles (Botafogo)
Memphis Depay will be joined in Brazil by former Manchester United defender Alex Telles, who was contracted to the Red Devils between 2020 and 2023.
Telles spent last season at Saudi side Al-Nassr, before his contract was recently cancelled, and he has returned to his homeland with Botafogo.
The left-back previously played in Brazil with Juventude and Gremio, before leaving for Galatasaray in 2014. Now 31, Telles is hoping he might be able to earn a recall to the national team.
Guillermo Varela (Flamengo)
Guillermo Varela signed with Manchester United in 2013 from Uruguayan side Penarol, and took until 2015 to make his Red Devils debut.
After 11 appearances he returned to Penarol, before a successful move to FC Copenhagen where he won the league title and played against United in the Europa League in 2020.
Varela also had a short stint in Russia, before a loan with Flamengo, which turned permanent earlier in 2024.
The 31-year-old featured at the Copa America for Uruguay and was recently called up again for the September internationals.
Sergio Romero, Marcos Rojo, Edinson Cavani (Boca Juniors)
Argentine giants Boca Juniors have a trio of former Manchester United stars, who very briefly were all at Carrington together in late 2020.
Marcos Rojo, now 34, signed straight with Boca in 2021, while his teammates took slight diversions. Romero had a spell in Italy with Venezia, while Cavani featured for Valencia in Spain.
Together the trio reached the Copa Libertadores Final last season before losing to Fluminense.
Cavani has been in terrific form this season, scoring 17 goals in 25 games. At the age of 37, he’s still got it.
Radamel Falcao (Millionairos)
Colombian striker Radamel Falcao returned to his homeland this summer after a long career in European football.
The former Manchester United loanee recently scored his first Millionairos goal too, at the age of 38. United fans never saw the best of ‘El Tigre’ as he was recovering from a serious injury during his stint at the club.
Juan Mata (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Juan Mata’s interesting career since leaving Manchester United has continued, after he clinched a surprise move to Australia.
Mata has signed with Western Sydney Wanderers, following former United players Nani and Morgan Schneiderlin, who both had spells with Australian clubs in recent seasons.
After leaving United, Mata had a spell in Turkey, before signing with Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr)
Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo has led the Saudi Pro League’s efforts to become a powerhouse of world football.
Ronaldo recently scored his 900th goal for club and country and is determined to reach a total of 1,000. You wouldn’t bet against him.
The 39-year-old scored 44 goals in 45 games for Al-Nassr last season and already has 4 in 4 to start this latest campaign.
Chris Smalling (Al-Fayha)
After a successful stint in Italy with Roma, Chris Smalling has made the switch to Saudi Arabia.
Smalling has agreed a two-year deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha, where he will go up against Cristiano Ronaldo.
Odion Ighalo (Al-Wehda)
Odion Ighalo was playing in China before he signed with Manchester United, and has had a successful stint in Saudi Arabia since.
After scoring 43 goals in 60 games for Al-Hilal and winning the title in 2022, he was moved aside for bigger names, and joined Al-Wehda.
Ighalo has continued his scoring form, managing to net 17 goals in 36 games for his new club so far.
Jesse Lingard (FC Seoul)
2016 FA Cup hero Jesse Lingard’s Manchester United career came to an end in 2022 when he was released. He then spent a season at Nottingham Forest, before looking further afield.
Lingard’s search for a new club took him to South Korea, with the unpredictable move to FC Seoul.
After a tough start, Lingard has become a key figure for his new club, even handed the captain’s armband.
Chicharito (Guadalajara)
Iconic goal-poacher Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez made an emotional return to Mexican club Guadalajara earlier in 2024.
Chicharito began his career at Guadalajara before Manchester United signed him back in 2010, and saw him become an instant hit.
The 36-year-old revived his career in the 2020s with a successful stint in MLS with LA Galaxy, scoring 39 goals, before suffering a torn ACL.
He has now returned to Mexico for the final chapter of his career, where he has been made Guadalajara captain.
Shinji Kagawa (Cerezo Osaka)
Former Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa is another ex-player to return ‘home’, joining the club where he began his career.
Kagawa signed back with Cerezo Osaka in 2023, 13 years after leaving the club to join Borussia Dortmund.
The 35-year-old had been playing in Sint-Truiden in Belgium before making his return to Japan, and previously had spells in Greece with PAOK and Spain with Real Zaragoza.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/rCQPGeu