In case you hadn’t noticed, Memphis Depay is insistent on wearing his first name on the back of his jersey for club and country.
Manchester United’s new winger has claimed in the press that the reason he doesn’t sport his surname on his shirt is because his father abandoned him when he was just four years old and he doesn’t want to be seen wearing the same name as the man who hurt him so much.
But Memphis’ father Dennis Depay has insisted that those claims aren’t true and that he continued to spend time with his son after his marriage with Memphis’ mother broke down.
“Saying that I didn’t see him after he was four is a lie,” Dennis told the Scottish Sun.
“It is unbelievable, it is not nice. He is my son and I love him. I am the man who gave him his first ball.
“He was not abandoned by me. That is not true. I was always there for him.
“I saw him on YouTube talking about his dad, saying he didn’t want to put my name on his back. It made me feel terrible.
“I would love to be back in touch with him. I miss him so much.”
Dennis denies that he broke off all contact with his son when Memphis was just four years old.
“The divorce happened but I was always going to see him,” he said. “I was giving money too.
“There was no problem with access. I could see Memphis whenever I wanted. He stayed with me lots of times and I’d buy him clothes — and footballs.
“I was always visiting him and they know it.”
In fact, Dennis Depay claims that he actually used to help Memphis when his mother’s new boyfriend would get abusive.
“With the new guy Cora had a hard time and so did Memphis,” Dennis added. “He and the other children hit Memphis sometimes so I would go and help him.
“The other children were jealous of him and that was made worse because he was a good footballer. The new man hit him sometimes for the slightest thing.”
