Former Manchester United and Barcelona forward, Memphis Depay, has issued a public apology following a conviction for drink-driving in Monaco.
The incident, which occurred last August, resulted in a four-month suspended prison sentence and a two-year driving ban within the principality.
Depay, 30, was apprehended by police after being found driving his Rolls Royce following a night out at a nightclub.
A breathalyzer test revealed his blood alcohol concentration to be 1.01 per milliliter, exceeding Monaco’s legal limit. In addition to the suspended sentence and driving ban, the court also imposed a €9,000 (£7,500) fine.
Taking to Instagram to address the matter, Depay expressed remorse for his actions. “I would like to come on here and apologize,” he stated.
“Last summer during my holidays in Monaco I made a mistake and decided to drive home after having some drinks in a restaurant. I should’ve got in a taxi instead but I didn’t so I would like to apologize and want to take full responsibility for my action. 2024 was a year of lessons and I will definitely learn from this one. 2025 we will do better. Memphis.”
Depay’s career has seen him play for several high-profile clubs.
After rising to prominence at PSV Eindhoven, he made a move to Manchester United in 2015.
His time at Old Trafford was ultimately unsuccessful, leading to a transfer to Lyon.
He later joined Barcelona and subsequently played for Atletico Madrid before signing with Brazilian club Corinthians in October.
Reflecting on his move to Corinthians, Depay explained his motivations, citing a desire for happiness and a connection to authentic football.
“Why I signed is very simple for me. I grew up in the Netherlands with African roots, know the competitions in Europe and played for many teams. As I got older, I asked myself: What can I do to become happier? That is staying close to my feeling. Everything in my life serves a purpose. This adventure made my heart happy. The energy I got, the efforts of the club, the reception of the supporters… I haven’t experienced this before. Maybe we’re playing at a higher level in Europe, but you can’t deny that the authentic football comes from Brazil. This is the Mecca of football.”
Since his arrival in Brazil, Depay has made 18 appearances for Corinthians, scoring seven goals across all competitions. He could next feature for the club on Thursday night against Palmeiras.
