Memphis Depay has hit out at Corinthians, calling their behaviour “unacceptable” after the Brazilian club withdrew a planned contract extension.

The Netherlands forward, who remains the Orange’s leading goalscorer, joined Corinthians on a two-year deal in 2024 and Depay claims there was an agreement in place for their relationship to continue into next year.

However,  Corinthians have now backtracked citing financial concerns, and the 32-year-old was unimpressed.

He wrote on social media: “This renewal was explicitly agreed upon by the president as well as the sporting, legal and financial department. Some people decided however to breach this engagement.

“I didn’t want this situation and always respected the club throughout the process, but now I am forced to react strongly in order to preserve my interests.

“In the upcoming days I will speak publicly but rest assured that I will not leave this unacceptable behaviour unsanctioned.”

Corinthians defend Depay snub

Former Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United forward Depay has scored 20 goals in 79 appearances for Corinthians, helping them win the Copa do Brasil and the Supercopa do Brasil.

But a statement confirmed he would not be remaining with the Sao Paulo club.

It read: “Corinthians has decided not to renew the contract of athlete Memphis Depay. This decision was made solely and exclusively in consideration of the financial health of our institution, which demands a rigorous balance and responsibility in the management of available resources.

“We would like to express our deep gratitude to the player Memphis Depay and his entire team, who since the beginning of the negotiations have sought the best possible agreement.

“It became clear that taking on a new commitment of this magnitude would not be compatible with the financial balance we need to preserve to ensure the institution’s sustainability. 

“We recognise that this was a difficult decision, but it was undoubtedly necessary for the future of Corinthians.”