Memphis Depay says ‘special’ Arsenal transfer target ‘needs to leave’ club to fulfil potential

Memphis Depay has hailed Corinthians team-mate Breno Bidon as a ‘special’ talent and believes the Arsenal-linked midfielder ‘needs to leave’ Brazilian football in order to fulfil his ‘enormous potential’.

Bidon is widely considered to be among the most exciting youngsters in the Brazilian game having played an instrumental role in Corinthians’ Copa do Brasil triumph last season.

The 20-year-old central midfielder also enjoyed success at international level in early 2025 when he helped Brazil win the South American Under-20 Championship for a record 13th time.

Bidon’s outstanding performances for both club and country have not gone unnoticed both within Brazil – with Flamengo said to be admirers – and in Europe, with top teams in Italy and Portugal beginning to circle.

Premier League leaders Arsenal have also been credited with a strong interest and have reportedly held talks with Corinthians to ‘seek information’ regarding Bidon’s potential availability.

It’s understood Corinthians are already resigned to the prospect of Bidon moving on to bigger and better things and have begun identifying potential replacements, placing Wolfsburg’s Vinicius Souza at the top of their wishlist.

According to a recent report from ESPN Brasil, Corinthians would be prepared to negotiate a transfer deal for Bidon should they receive an offer in the region of R$150million (£20.8m) for their prized possession.

Former Manchester United and Barcelona forward Memphis has witnessed Bidon’s meteoric rise first-hand having joined Corinthians from Atletico Madrid back in September 2024.

According to the Netherlands international, whichever club that manages to sign Bidon down the line will be acquiring a player with the ‘talent’ and the ‘mentality’ to reach the very top.

‘I talk to him a lot, he’s very intelligent,’ Memphis told SporTV in Brazil.

‘He has great potential. He’s young, but very talented. He works hard, is focused, and has a strong mentality.

‘He’s a special player, he needs to leave Brazil, not now, but soon. He also needs to be called up to the Brazilian national team.

‘He has enormous potential, he’s very good.’

There have been mounting calls for Bidon to receive a call-up to the senior Brazil team before too long – something he does not shy away from and ‘dreams’ about ‘every day’.

‘It’s a childhood dream to play for the national team. I was able to be a champion with the Under-20 team and it was already an immense pride to wear the Brazilian jersey,’ the youngster explained.

‘I dream about the national team every day, of course, but I have to keep working because we know that the level of the national team is very high.

‘I have to keep working so that this, one day, can happen.’

Bidon thanked his Corinthians team-mates for the support they had provided to allow him to achieve so much already at such a young age.

‘We have a group that has helped me a lot to reach this level,’ he added.

‘Everything they’ve helped me with, I certainly wouldn’t have improved without them.

‘Many guys who, day-to-day, might not seem like it, but are phenomenal. We are a very united group.’

Corinthians are in no hurry to cash in on Bidon at this stage, though, and facing the media last month, head coach Dorival Junior was keen to stress how ‘important’ the midfielder was in his plans.

‘He’s a very important player and if I’m being honest with you, I wouldn’t like to lose any player,’ he told reporters.

‘We need to find balance so we can have a strong squad throughout the year. That is our biggest challenge.’

Bidon has been with Corinthians since Under-17 level and is tied into a contract with his boyhood team until December 31 2029.

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