Depay set to leave Lyon for Barcelona as free agent

Lyon striker Memphis Depay will be a free agent this summer, and his destination has been decided.

Reports from the Spanish media say the Dutch striker’s next adventure will be in the Spanish La Liga, specifically Barcelona. This makes Olympique Lyonnais loss Barcelona’s gain.

Barcelona would have signed Depay during the winter window but was unsuccessful due to their humongous debt profile, making the League body stop the transfer from going ahead.

Depay, who has been a mainstay in the team after joining Manchester United, scored 18 goals and nine assists in 33 league games this season.

According to TV3, the Catalan public television, Barca will win the race for his signature among other suitors. This gives him another opportunity to reunite with the former Netherland coach, Ronald Koeman.

Reports also said that Depay had turned down offers from  Juventus, Inter Milan, and Atlético Madrid because of the move to Camp Nou.

Due to the debt profile of Barcelona, Depay won’t be getting the same amount presented to him in January under the leadership of former Barca president, Josep Maria Bartomeu. That hasn’t cooled the interest of the former PSV attacker from joining the club.

The Catalan television also reported that his agents had two weeks ago began negotiations with Mateu Alemany, CEO of Blaugrana football.

The deal is expected to follow the arrival of Eric Garcia from Manchester City, also on a free transfer.

Such arrivals will show the strong intent of Juan Laporta, who recently won the presidential poll. It’s looking like the Barca boss has convinced Lionel Messi to stay as the talisman seemed to be enjoying his game again.

The arrival of Depay will add more strength to Barca’s attack, while the name of Manchester City Sergio Agüero, who will also be free, comes up very often in Catalonia.

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed