Memphis Depay set to return to Oranje for UEFA Nations League matches against Spain

Memphis Depay is set to return to the Netherlands national team. Ronald Koeman, the team’s manager, has included the 31-year-old striker in his preliminary squad for the matches against Spain in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League.

The 98-time international has not played for the national side since the European Championships in Germany last summer. He went off injured in the 2-1 semi-final loss to England.

Depay then continued his career at Corinthians in Brazil, which led to Koeman not picking him. The manager picked Joshua Zirkzee, Brian Brobbey, and Wout Weghorst for the striker position. Weghorst is currently unavailable because he has suffered a broken toe.

The inclusion of Depay does not come as a surprise. Koeman has been unable to find his ideal striker for this Oranje side and went to visit Depay in Brazil with the Director of Top-level Football, Nigel de Jong, last week.

Zirkzee also was not included in the squad. Brobbey was included in the 25-man squad. Koeman left out Joey Veerman (PSV) and Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United).

The Netherlands will face Spain on March 20 in De Kuip. Both teams will then face each other again three days later in Valencia to decide who will play in the semi-finals. Koeman will announce his definitive squad in two weeks.