Memphis Depay talks Griezmann, Koeman, music career, and dreams with Barcelona

It took a while, but Memphis Depay is a Barcelona player at last.

A move had been touted since last year when Ronald Koeman was named manager and Depay entered the final year of his contract with Olympique Lyon. However, the transfer did not materialise, and the Dutchman had to wait for a year to arrive in Catalonia.

Signed on a free transfer during this summer window after his contract with Lyon ran out, Depay was unveiled as a Barcelona player earlier this year. Soon after, the forward got his first taste of action in the pre-season friendly against Girona, when he also scored his first goal from the penalty spot.

With the new season not far away, Depay sat down with Mundo Deportivo for a lengthy interview, during which he discussed all things ranging from the completion of the transfer to his experience in Barcelona so far to his tattoos and much more.

Transfer and talks with Koeman

Opening up on why he chose to sign for Barcelona when he had bigger offers from other clubs, Depay replied saying: “It’s a great club, I think it fits my way of playing and I love this city. There are many reasons.”

The Netherlands international then spoke about the time when he learned of Barcelona’s interest in his services. “Maybe a year ago. I remember that day, you feel very good when a club like this is interested, makes you feel very good and gives you extra confidence, it means that you are doing well,” he said.

When quizzed about the conversations he had with Ronald Koeman, who got the best out of him on the international stages, Depay said: “I spoke with the coach to see if the move was possible or not. He told me that we were not in an easy time at the club and that we had to make movements and do things differently from what they were doing.

“And also when I changed agency it made it all a little longer, but for me, the time was perfect and for the club too and we decided to do it now.”

At the same time, Depay also quashed rumours of how he had agreed to a deal with lower terms with Barca back in October last year itself, stating: “I do not know anything about this. Where did you hear it? There are always a lot of rumours about these things, but I always try to be focused on the field and leave the business part to my lawyers. I don’t know if that is true.”

A childhood dream and future ambitions

Former Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert shared an image of Depay wearing a Barcelona shirt in his childhood. So, the Dutchman was asked if he was a fan of the Catalan giants from a young age.

“I remember that on the street and in the club where I played, they called me ‘little Patrick Kluivert’ because of my hair and the shirt I was wearing. 

“My mother told me that my grandfather gave it to me and that one day he told me that I was going to play there, it is a beautiful story and I never stopped dreaming. That’s what I say, you have to dream big from a young age, all children should do it, and work hard too, but it is very nice to finally wear this shirt.”

On what he plans to achieve now that he has arrived at Barcelona and whether there was any particular trophy he wanted to win, Depay said: “Win all titles. They are all important, LaLiga, the Champions … I don’t have any special ones.”

Depay also opened up on the array of tattoos that he has got, revealing that he had gotten inked for the first time when he was 15, and added that the tattoos were mostly motivational words, memorable moments both ‘good and bad’. “There is still a lot of space for that, no problem, we can win a lot,” he said when asked if there was room for tattoos when he wins trophies with Barcelona.

Apart from that, the former Lyon forward was asked on his music plans and his rap career. He said, “It’s like therapy for me, thinking about football all day is too much, I need music.”

He continued, talking about his childhood idols, “When I was young, I watched video clips and movies about American rappers, 50cent, Tupac . They inspired me. The first time I was in a studio I was 14 years old and I went with a friend. My main goal was soccer, but I was also making music on the street with my friends.

“Since the day I stepped foot in the studio, I had a great time, I have tried to keep doing things. When I was older, I took it more seriously, I had friends, good producers and I said to myself: ‘let’s try it’. And the results came out. They asked, ‘Who is it?’ And I told them it was me, it felt so good,” Depay said on this topic, clearly emotional.

Presentation and The Barcelona experience

Depay was given a tour of the Barca museum on the day of his unveiling, and the Dutchman was clearly left in awe of the experience. “When you arrive at the stadium and visit the museum, you have that feeling of living history, you see the trophies, and it is a moment where you really realize that you have reached a great club.

“It was an incredible tour and I am sure that I will do it again because there is a lot of information that I missed that day so I will do it again.“

Speaking of the city of Barcelona, Depay added: “It is a very beautiful city, the weather is magnificent, the food is very good, the people are friendly. I only have good words, it’s a perfect combination between the city and the football club, I couldn’t ask for a better place.”

First day in training and teammates

Reflecting on his first day linking up with his new team in a training session, Depay said: “Everyone was very kind to me, I felt a great welcome in the dressing room and it is a feeling that makes you feel very comfortable. Of course, the level of training is high, but that makes me happy because it is what I felt I needed.”

Depay also spoke about his teammates, claiming that he was familiar with a few faces while insisting that the bonding would only grow with each passing day. “Griezmann of course, I played against him, also against Gerard Pique. As the days go by, you talk more and more with each one. You see them work and train and they are very natural, it’s like in a new job. I am happy with the sensations.”

The talk then drifted to Depay’s preferred jersey number, to which the Dutchman replied: “Good question, I don’t know. We’ll see. It’s not the most important thing, I will fight for a place on the team, the number will arrive.”

Plans for the season

Speaking of his ambitions to be a regular in the starting lineup, Depay said: “Everybody dreams this, but I don’t dream it, I work for it. It is up to me to show the coach that I have to be in the starting eleven.”

As to the positions he likes to play in, the ex-Manchester United forward insisted he was happy to play anywhere in the final third, saying: “As a forward, as a left winger, as a false nine … I can play in all these positions and I feel comfortable there.”

He also added that he was aware of what manager Koeman expected of him and would strive to give the same level of effort and quality that he did for the Netherlands national team and former club Lyon. When quizzed about the number of goals he was targeting in his debut season, Depay said:

“It’s about my ambition to help the team and win titles, and that comes with goals, assists and a lot of hard work. I don’t need to put a number on myself, I never have, we’ll see.”