Lionel Messi’s transfer to Paris Saint-Germain was finalized so quickly that Memphis Depay didn’t even have the opportunity to shake hands with the Argentinian at Barcelona. This is what the brand new acquisition of Barcelona has revealed in an interview with El Periodico. Depay said at his presentation that he was looking forward to the moment when he would play together with Messi, but it did not happen.
Messi later joined Barcelona in connection with his participation in the Copa América and then enjoyed a holiday in Ibiza with Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas. “Maybe we will meet in a match someday”, Depay looks ahead to a possible meeting. “Or maybe when he comes back. You never know. I couldn’t even say ‘hello’ to Messi. He would come later because of the battle for the Copa America. And then there was that whole situation. I didn’t even have the had a chance to meet him.”
Depay made his debut in LaLiga last weekend against Real Sociedad (4-2 win) and partly thanks to Gerard Pique, who made his registration possible with a wage sacrifice. “Pique is probably the player who has helped me the most because his English is really good,” Depay continues. Pique left for Manchester United in 2004 and returned to Barcelona in 2008. “He is a fantastic guy. I also have a lot of fun with Jordi Alba. Also with Sergiño Dest and Frenkie de Jong, whom I have known for a long time. Everyone is really fantastic. It is a nice dressing room.”
Trainer Ronald Koeman immediately cleared a starting spot for the attacker against Sociedad. Depay made a strong impression and could count on praise from the Spanish media after the game. “I know what he wants from me,” Depay refers to Koeman’s expectations. “I know what to do. There is chemistry between us and that is important. For me it is very important that clarity is given. I am a player who can create something out of nothing and needs the freedom to do that. You have to be free, free of mind.”
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