Controversial gambling company pays Memphis Depay’s salary: Money laundering investigated
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11 Sep 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Memphis Depay, the Dutch star player, is paid by a Brazilian gambling company that is currently involved in a major scandal. The company, Esportes da Sorte, is said to be paying Depay’s salary, despite the fact that they are in the middle of a money laundering investigation. How is it possible that a company with such problems pays a top soccerplayer?
The Brazilian police are on top of a large-scale money laundering investigation in which two gambling companies are central. Esportes da Sorte and Vai de Bet are suspected of being involved in the laundering of no less than 3 billion Brazilian real (approximately 486 million euros).
Scandal involving gambling companies in Brazil
These gambling companies, together with a criminal organization, are said to have made this money ‘disappear’ via the gambling market. And now it turns out that one of these gambling companies also arranges the payments for none other than Memphis Depay. Who recently signed with Corinthians, one of the largest football clubs in Brazil.
Corinthians had signed a deal with Esportes da Sorte in July, who put millions on the table to act as shirt sponsor. That money came at just the right time, because the club is deeply in debt. The financial problems are so great that Corinthians can barely pay the salaries of the players. And that is precisely why Esportes da Sorte pays Memphis Depay’s salary: because the club itself cannot.
Memphis Depay’s salary paid by suspicious company
Memphis Depay, who we know from his successes at FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon, among others, signed with Corinthians this summer. What makes the transfer spicy is that his salary – around 9.7 million euros spread over two years – is paid directly by Esportes da Sorte. While that same company is now under fire in the money laundering investigation.
Corinthians itself has almost 340 million euros in debt, and without the help of Esportes da Sorte they probably would not have been able to pay Depay. But with the money laundering investigation now underway, it is increasingly beginning to look like there is a dark side to the money flowing to the Dutch player.
CEO of Esportes Da Sorte detained for questioning
The CEO of Esportes da Sorte, Henrique da Silva Filho, is now detained for questioning. He reported to the Brazilian investigation services to provide an explanation about the alleged money laundering practices of his company.
What this means for Depay’s contract with Corinthians remains unclear for the time being. For the time being, the club will continue, but the question is how long this will all last now that Esportes da Sorte is in dire straits.