The Memphis Depay deal is one of the most surprising stories of this transfer window.
A situation that changed in a few weeks because the Dutch star was initially not open to leaving Barcelona, rather tempted to stay in the Blaugrana until the end of the current season to be Lewandowski's backup option and then start a new chapter as a free agent next June.
A calm situation until Memphis, together with his lawyer Sebastien Ledure, decided to say enough; the decision was clear, Depay changed his mind and chose to leave Barcelona immediately to try a new adventure with only one club in mind: Atletico Madrid.
Memphis Depay to Atlético Madrid, here we go! Agreement sealed on fee around €3/4m to Barcelona, Depay is set to travel to Madrid for medicals soon 🚨⚪️🔴 #Atléti
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 18, 2023
Memphis will sign a contract valid until June 2028. pic.twitter.com/NvkEp4AD9N
It wasn't an easy negotiation because Barça initially didn't want to let Memphis leave for another Spanish club; there was a blockage that could not be overcome with the options of an exchange with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.
The Belgian winger was an option considered by Barcelona because they really appreciate the player and the relationship with his agent Pini Zahavi is excellent, but it was not possible to proceed because Atletico Madrid requested €50/60m to sell Ferreira Carrasco in January, obviously a completely different value than Memphis who's out of contract in June.
However, Memphis immediately reached a verbal agreement with Atletico Madrid on the contract: a deal valid until June 2025 because the Dutch star's only priority was to reach Diego Simeone at Atléti, a strong message also communicated to Barcelona.
No intention to join any other club or to stay, only Atléti in his mind since the beginning of the negotiation.
When Inter tried to talk to Barcelona via intermediaries for a swap deal between Joaquin Correa and Depay, the discussion ended immediately because it was never an option for Memphis. Only Atletico Madrid in the Dutch national team striker's plans.
So on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona met again to discuss the transfer of Memphis with different conditions: no loan, Atletico Madrid agreed to pay a fee close to €3/4m to sign Depay on permanent deal while Barcelona have given the ok to Memphis to be released in January instead of waiting for next summer.
A difficult deal that was completed thanks to the will of the player, but Atletico Madrid also insisted on Memphis instead of activating other options such as Borja Iglesias and other players offered during these weeks.
So Diego Simeone will have a new attacking joker to replace Joao Felix who signed with Chelsea, Depay has always been the club's priority and finally the deal is complete.
