Memphis Depay, currently playing for Corinthians, made headlines after an unusual moment during a recent match. The former Manchester United forward was seen using his phone on the bench during stoppage time in a 1‑1 draw with Flamengo in the Brazilian Serie A. This caught the attention of viewers worldwide.
At 32 years old, Depay had to leave the field early due to injury, exiting in the 22nd minute. He was later spotted scrolling on his phone before a coach approached him, apparently reprimanding him.
Video clips of the incident circulated on social media, leading many to wonder about his actions at that moment.
In response, Depay explained on X that he was using the phone to communicate with medical staff in the Netherlands regarding his injury. He chose to support his team from the bench instead of staying in the dressing room.
Depay expressed his disappointment over the match result and emphasized the need to keep working for improvement.
He clarified that he was focused on his injury management and was not distracted from the game. This incident isn’t the first time he has gained attention off the pitch. Depay recently moved to Brazilian football by joining Corinthians, where he reconnected with former United teammate Jesse Lingard.
Lingard, who joined Corinthians in earlier 2026, also made headlines for his new adventure after playing for West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
Looking ahead, Depay and Corinthians aim to recover from the draw and seek victory, as he hopes to return to full fitness after his injury.