- Seriously injured in the knee more than a month ago, Memphis Depay will obviously miss the knockout stages of the OL French Cup, this Thursday (8:55 pm) in Nice.
- The co-author of his biography, Dutch journalist Simon Zwartkruis, spoke at length to 20 Minutes about the character of the 25-year-old striker.
- In Heart of a lion , he explains how Memphis Depay enlightens readers "about the traumas of his childhood."
Since December 15, many OL supporters have been watching every video of Memphis Depay's re-education, fantasizing about his supersonic return to the pitch. But the shadow of the 25-year-old captain risks hovering until the end of the season over the Lyon attack, like this Thursday (8:55 pm) in the knockout stages of the Coupe de France in Nice. Victim of a rupture of the anterior ligament of the left knee against Rennes (0-1), the Dutch international even has a good chance of having to withdraw from Euro 2020. Journalist Simon Zwartkruis, who co-wrote his biography Heart of a lion , published in its international version at Christmas, tells for 20 Minutes "the real Memphis Depay".
1 month ✅ pic.twitter.com/MZJMPtLNaR
- Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 19, 2020How do you gain the trust of Memphis Depay, especially as a journalist?
I met him for the first time in 2013 since I was following the Dutch selection. He was someone very closed, suspicious, he only made short responses and it was quite a challenge to get an interview with him. Then at the end of my first interview with him, after the 2014 World Cup, he nevertheless admitted to me that he had had a good time (smile). It takes him a while to open up to others, except when he's on the field. As long as there is a ball, whether with friends or with teammates, he is a different, happy person. And at the end of 2017, his management team asked me to come to Lyon to discuss a book project with him.
Weren't you worried that your age difference would make co-writing his biography complex?
Given my age [51], I could indeed be his father and I admit that I thought it would be difficult at first. But we quickly realized that it was really not a problem. OK, we don't have the same style of dress or music at all. But we learned a lot from each other by talking about our lives. And above all we share a great openness, this is what connects us the most.
Very proud that Heart of a Lion is translated into English. The international edition of the bestselling lifestory of @memphis is out now and can be ordered here: https://t.co/wxRkt0ZmNn
🔥🦁🔥🍾🔥 pic.twitter.com/pUnvTfltbm
Didn't seeing a player embark on a biography at just 23 years old bother you at the start?
In February 2018, I came to Lyon and my first question was why he wanted to make a book. He assured me that he had a lot to tell about his childhood. The exchange lasted five hours and I understood that we had already started Heart of a lion, when we had just planned to validate or not the launch of the project . In total, we saw each other five times in Lyon, we lived almost together for several days. I was also able to accompany him on his moving first trip as an adult to Ghana, his father's country. Many players are boring, even at the end of their careers, and there is no point in telling their stories. Here we are dealing with a real character.
Many OL supporters have often struggled, for three years, to accept the flashy style of Memphis, his rap creations and his strong presence on social networks, do you understand it?
Yes, because it is the story of his life. Memphis was only 16 when PSV Eindhoven first team coach Fred Rutten explained that he had to choose between football and rap, that he could never combine the two. Memphis didn't understand this, and I honestly think that seeing a footballer doing a rap clip while on vacation is not a problem.
💰 pic.twitter.com/AXd4jnbUSE
- Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 10, 2020Who was Memphis when he arrived in Lyon during the 2017 winter transfer window?
He rose with OL after having lived a dark period of his life at Manchester United. It was at the end of his experience in England that he rediscovered his faith in religion. It brought him real inner peace that helped him adapt well to Lyon.
OL: What trace has Memphis Depay left with Manchester United supporters? https://t.co/vQbsFLdF8V pic.twitter.com/liJeEzIWqQ
- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) March 3, 2017What can OL supporters discover by reading Heart of a lion ?
The book will enlighten them on the traumas of childhood, the long personal development and the hitherto mysterious character of Memphis. You have to know who the real Memphis is taking into account his very violent family environment at the time. He wanted the book to be more oriented towards his life than football, and he wanted at all costs to be sincere and raw.
Heart of a Lion now also available on Amazon!
You wanna know how I been raised?
What battles I fought?
What mistakes I made?
How I reached this level I'm on today?
At the end of the decisive OL-Leipzig match (2-2), how did you feel when you saw Memphis in his new role as captain defending Marcelo, who was targeted by a banner from the north turn?
Memphis was always the one who stood up to protect the weakest in school, those who were insulted or those who were discriminated against. He was very emotional, he didn't speak but he was fighting. Besides, a few years ago, Memphis would have hit the supporter. But he channeled himself, like his reaction in November with the selection to fight racism in football.
This chaotic European evening against Leipzig seemed to mark a turning point for Memphis in Lyon with the aim of qualifying 'but also a powerful media outlet ...
It is the Memphis that I know. The supporters felt that he had spoken with his heart, all in sincerity. He is never afraid and he showed it again that evening. He has built a strong relationship with this club.
🗣💬 "I'm furious. I have to be careful, because it reminds me of my past and I don't want to be this man anymore. I became calmer, I have no words for that . "
👉 On the verge of tears, Memphis Depay reacted to incidents after #OLRBL at the microphone of RMC Sport pic.twitter.com/IGCaMqxmeR
How is his injury perceived in the Netherlands? Do you really believe in its chances to play the Euro in June?
Memphis is confident he will come back stronger, but no one can know when, and I am not a doctor (smile). In the Netherlands, the comparison is often made with Marco van Basten, whose 1987-88 season had been ruined by an ankle injury, before he won Euro 88 with a superb goal in the final. What I do know is that Memphis has an athletic physique and, more importantly, a steel mind.
How do you imagine her post-career?
He is a very creative guy who develops in many areas. 24 hours a day is never enough for him. He is particularly keen to get involved as much as possible in his foundation in Ghana, with deaf and blind children. And then he told me that one of his goals is to perform in concert one day with a group in the PSV stadium, where it all started for him.
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