Barcelona hoping to convince misfit to leave in January, player ‘stopping’ all offers

Barcelona will hope to try and persuade Memphis Depay to leave the club in the January transfer window despite the player’s reluctance to move on.

This claim comes from journalist Mari Carmen Torres of MARCA, who states that the 28-year-old forward has been ‘stopping’ all offers that are coming his way ahead of the winter window.

Depay has become out of favour at Barcelona this season, with manager Xavi Hernandez hardly calling him up. Indeed, the Dutchman has featured just three times so far in 2022/23, scoring one goal, albeit injury also played a part in his reduced game-time.

Given that Robert Lewandowski is set for a three-game suspension, Depay could be one of the players to get a look-in in the upcoming matches and Xavi is not entirely opposed to keeping hold of the Dutch ace.

However, the Barcelona administration believe that the time is right for the two parties to separate, especially as the club are going through a difficult phase economically and can use any boost that comes their way.

“In winter, the club intend to lighten the squad. Xavi wouldn’t mind keeping the player, but the board understands that it’s time to make the sale. Memphis wants to leave as he arrived, free. That is, he would hold out until the end of the season, the date on which his contract ends, to leave Barça,” the journalist explained.

Depay, for his part, has no desire to leave in the mid-season trading period as he is believed to be keen on an exit as a free agent in the summer as it would guarantee him more financial benefits. So, he is understood to be blocking offers that are coming his way ahead of the winter window.

“The player is stopping all offers, however, the Catalan club hopes to convince the footballer to abandon the discipline,” Mari Carmen Torres further stated.

Depay has suitors in Manchester United and AS Roma, who have been constantly linked with a move for the Dutch ace. There have been rumours of interest from Newcastle United as well.

What now remains to be seen is whether Barcelona can persuade Depay to leave the club in January instead of waiting until the summer to move on from Camp Nou.