Why does Memphis Depay hide his nickname?
With his imminent transfer to Corinthians, find out why the Dutchman prefers to be called by his first name only

It’s one of the ‘bombshells’ of the Brazilian transfer market: Dutch star Memphis Depay ‘s transfer to Corinthians is increasingly imminent.
Given the player’s stature, the Brazilian press, specifically Globo Esporte, has unearthed an old story about Memphis Depay that may have gone unnoticed by many fans. Did you know that Memphis Depay hides his surname? In this case, the athlete prefers to be called ‘Memphis’, which is precisely the name he uses on the back of his shirts. But do you know the story behind this choice?
In an interview with the BBC, the player himself revealed the reason for not using his surname, a decision he made back in 2012 and it is all related to a family trauma. Memphis confessed that, when he was just four years old, he was abandoned by his father, Dennis Depay, at a time when he was still living in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
The athlete was then raised by his mother, Cora Schensema, and has never hidden the pain he feels towards his father: «Don’t call me Depay, you can call me Memphis. I don’t want to explain what happened at home, because people would be embarrassed. That’s how it will be, because I’ve already moved on.»