Xavi's toughest call sees Memphis miss September call‑up

New Netherlands manager Xavi Hernández announced on Monday the 21st that striker Memphis Depay would not travel to the September FIFA date, a decision he described as the most difficult of his early tenure.

Decision and conversation

Xavi said he spoke directly with Memphis before publishing the squad, praising the forward’s maturity in receiving the news. He added that the exclusion does not signal the end of the player’s international career and that the doors remain open for all Dutch players.

The coach declined to reveal the specific reasons for the omission, calling the matter confidential between him and the striker. He stressed that Memphis understood the situation and reacted with “a lot of maturity”.

Reactions from former internationals

Former Netherlands forward Eljero Elia argued that it is too early to write Memphis off, noting that the striker did not feature at the World Cup and is now fitter than during that tournament. Wim Kieft echoed the sentiment, pointing out that Xavi and Memphis previously worked together at FC Barcelona and that the forward’s experience could benefit the new generation.

Kieft also highlighted Memphis’s history of injuries at major tournaments, suggesting that if he remains fit he can still be relied upon for the national side.

Memphis, currently with Corinthians, has scored only one league goal in 2026 and has struggled with physical problems. He also missed a late penalty against Estudiantes in the Libertadores, a moment that added pressure to his club form.

Despite the setback, Xavi confirmed that the Netherlands will begin his new cycle against Germany on Thursday the 24th in the UEFA Nations League, marking his official debut as head coach.

Both Xavi and the former internationals agreed that Memphis remains the Netherlands’ all‑time top scorer, a fact that keeps his exclusion from the first squad a headline‑grabbing story.