Xavi reveals details of his conversation with Memphis Depay

Xavi Hernández, the new head coach of the Netherlands national team, has revealed details of his conversation with forward Memphis Depay, confirming that the exclusion of the Corinthians player from his initial squad does not mean the door is closed on a return to the national team in the near future.

Xavi is set to lead the Netherlands for the first time during the current international break, as the Dutch national team faces Germany on Thursday, September 24, in the UEFA Nations League.

Memphis Depay, who participated with the Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup, was the most notable absentee from Xavi's first squad, despite his status as the all-time top scorer for the Dutch national team.

Xavi said during a press conference on Monday: "Perhaps the hardest decision was to talk to Memphis. I have a good relationship with him, and he was great. His reaction was wonderful, and he showed a great deal of maturity. He understood everything."

He added: "I have a lot of respect for Memphis, but I want to say that the doors are open for all players. The door is not closed for Memphis, nor for any other player. It was undoubtedly the hardest case, but he has shown great maturity."

When asked about the reasons for excluding Memphis Depay, who has scored just one goal with Corinthians this year, Xavi replied: "This is a secret, it's a conversation between me and Memphis as a coach. He knows everything, and he understands the situation, and that is the most important part."

The Netherlands are set to face Germany on Thursday, followed by three more matches during the international break against Serbia on two occasions and Greece.