Depay confrims he’s close to joining Barcelona on a free transfer

Depay confrims he’s close to joining Barcelona on a free transfer

 

Memphis Depay has confirmed that he is close to joining Barcelona on a free transfer after admitting that it is his ‘dream’ to play under Ronald Koeman at the Nou Camp.

The 27-year-old’s current deal at Lyon expires at the end of this month and has been linked with a move to the Catalan giants.

Barcelona tried completing a move for the Dutchman last summer but were unable to afford the transfer fee of around £23million set by Lyon, while presidential candidates were unwilling to sanction a move in January given that he is now available on a free.

But with his Lyon deal about to expire, Depay has confirmed that his dreams of playing under his former Holland manager are about to become a reality.

‘Everyone knows that I have been negotiating with Barcelona for a long time and that my dream is to play for Ronald Koeman,’ Depay said. ‘Just wait, and then the news will come.’

A move for Depay hindered on whether Koeman would stay at the club after being linked with the exit following a rocky period for the club.

Barca’s new club president Joan Laporta confirmed Koeman would stay for another season, which has allowed the Depay negotiations to progress.

Depay, who is currently leading the line for Holland at this summer’s Euros, is expected to finalise a move to Barca at the end of this week.

The forward would become the third free transfer to join Barcelona this summer, who have already confirmed the signings of Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia last month.

They also triggered a £7.8million clause in Emerson Royal’s Real Betis contract earlier this week to sign the Brazilian defender on a permanent basis.

Depay joined Lyon in 2017 after scoring just seven goals in 53 appearances in a two-year spell at Manchester United.

But the Dutchman has revived his club career in France, scoring 76 goals in 178 matches, including 20 in Ligue 1 in 2020-21.

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