Establishing himself as a key cog at the club, Depay won his first prize with Corinthians in March after his outfit triumphed over arch-rivals Palmeiras to lift the Campeonato Paulista.

The former Barcelona star initially notified Corinthians over the unpaid debt while threatening not to fulfil his professional obligations if the situation is not resolved with an immediate effect.

As a sign of protest and dissatisfaction with the club’s failure to pay to settle his debt, the Dutch-Ghanaian star boycotted training last Wednesday. The recent gesture has sparked speculation about the future of the former Manchester United attacker at Corinthians.

Corinthians are currently in financial crisis, leading to the delay in payment of Depay’s wages. Following a meeting with club president, Augusto Melo, the forward has returned to training.

Depay would remain at Corinthians, but faces a fine under the team regulations for boycotting training.

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Amid public backlash and growing criticism from fans and observers, Blay released an official apology on Friday, July 11, 2025, through the JBlay Foundation. In the statement, he admitted that his remarks were made in a moment clouded by deep personal emotions following his departure from the club.

“Upon reflection, I recognise that my words may have caused disappointment or offense to the club, my former teammates, the passionate supporters, and specific individuals whose names were mentioned,” the statement read.

Blay went on to express his “sincerest and unreserved apology” to Asante Kotoko SC, its management, technical team, players, and fans. He stressed that it was never his intention to tarnish the club’s image or undermine the contributions of those he worked with.

He acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him during the interview and took “full responsibility” for his words. “This experience has served as a powerful reminder of the values of emotional discipline, humility, and maturity—on and off the pitch,” he added.

Justice Blay and Asante Kotoko mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the 2024/25 season despite a year left on his contract. His apology is seen as a step toward repairing his relationship with the club and its supporters after a turbulent exit.

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Blay, who joined Kotoko during the 2019/20 season and later made his move permanent, quickly became a central figure in the squad.

However, the 2024/25 campaign marked the end of his six-year tenure at the club amid allegations of multiple off-field issues.

Reports have since confirmed that his contract was terminated, reportedly over disciplinary issues.

But Blay, speaking candidly, said behind-the-scenes turmoil and betrayal by teammates contributed to his frustrations.

“I had a girlfriend who used to visit me at the camp,” Blay said. “Before I knew it, the same lady was involved with Mohammed Camara. We had a disagreement that led us to the police station, but I was advised to settle the matter amicably with the lady, which I did.”

He further alleged that a similar incident occurred with Kwame Opoku.

“After that, I had another, and I introduced her to Kwame Opoku. He used to talk to the woman, and before I realised, Kwame Opoku had snatched the woman from me.

Blay added that the issue was serious enough to be mediated by then-coach Prosper Narteh Ogum.

“I approached him about the issue, and he denied it. The issue was settled by Prosper Narteh Ogum, and even before Karim Zito arrived, the same issue was resolved again, but what Kwame Opoku hurts me,” he added.

Blay’s revelations add a dramatic twist to his exit from the Porcupine Warriors and raise questions about team unity behind the scenes at one of Ghana’s biggest football clubs.

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Blay’s comments come after his contract with Kotoko was mutually terminated at the end of the 2024/25 season, despite having a year left. He revealed that he had sensed his departure was imminent during the team’s camp ahead of an MTN FA Cup clash against Golden Kick FC. “I knew I was not going to be part of Kotoko’s team. I sensed it… I was later called into a meeting and told I’m no longer in the plans of the club. The explanation they gave was that they are not only looking at performance,” he recounted.

The former Medeama midfielder also spoke of overhearing a private conversation between club board member Nana Apinkra and head coach Kwesi Appiah, in which one of them said, “I like Kwame.” He said this deepened his belief that certain players were being favoured.

Blay further disclosed that his time at the club was marred by personal conflicts. He alleged that Camara Mohammed snatched his girlfriend, resulting in a police case after a confrontation. He also accused striker Kwame Poku of taking over his “sugar mummy.” “That’s where I even assaulted the security man at the clubhouse because of the tension,” he admitted, adding that the story had been twisted in the public domain.

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“People have been misinformed that I’m the only drunkard in the club, but that’s not true,” he said, adding that Joseph Ablor and Guinean midfielder Camara Mohammed were also involved in smoking shisha.

Blay did not stop there. He alleged that Camara Mohammed once snatched his girlfriend, a situation that escalated into a police case. He also accused striker Kwame Poku of betrayal, claiming the player took over a “sugar mummy” who had been supporting him. “That’s where I even assaulted the security man at the clubhouse because of the tension,” Blay added, clarifying that earlier reports about the incident were distorted.

The former Medeama star also claimed he sensed his days at the club were numbered before management officially informed him. He cited a conversation he overheard between board member Nana Apinkra and coach Kwesi Appiah, in which one remarked, “I like Kwame,” which he interpreted as a sign of internal bias.

Justice Blay and Kotoko mutually agreed to terminate his contract, which still had a year remaining. His revelations have reignited concerns about player discipline and internal management at the club.

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“People have been misinformed that I’m the only drunkard in the club, but that’s not true,” Blay stated. “Joseph Ablor and Camara Mohammed also smoked shisha.”

Blay’s comments follow the mutual termination of his contract with Asante Kotoko, despite having a year left on his deal. He revealed that he had felt marginalized well before the official announcement and sensed his departure was inevitable.

The midfielder went further, alleging that Camara Mohammed had once snatched his girlfriend, an incident that reportedly escalated to a police confrontation.

Blay also took aim at striker Kwame Poku, claiming the forward betrayed him by taking over a “sugar mummy” who had previously supported him financially.

These revelations have reignited public scrutiny of the internal culture at Asante Kotoko, raising concerns about player discipline and locker room dynamics at one of Ghana’s most storied football clubs.

The club has yet to respond to the claims made by Blay.

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Despite the setback, Björkegren drew positives from the performance against Banyana Banyana, highlighting his side’s attacking intent and resilience.

“We hit the bar twice and had more shots, more corners. We were pushing till the end. It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we played well against a strong team,” he said.

Looking ahead to the encounter with Mali, who opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 win over Tanzania, Björkegren stressed Ghana’s commitment to going all out for victory.

“Mali may only need a point to qualify, but our mentality is to win every game, whether it’s the group stage or the final. We’ve studied Mali closely, but we believe in our style and ability.” Björkegren added.

The match will take place at the Stade Municipal de Berkane in Morocco today, Thursday, July 11. Kick-off is set for 16:00 GMT.

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Kudus had attracted interest from Chelsea and clubs in the Saudi Pro League before opting for Spurs.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the former Ajax star revealed that Tottenham’s long-term vision, led by head coach Thomas Frank, played a key role in his decision.

“One of the most important parts of why I came here is the project and how the manager sees it, and to develop under him,” he said.

“With the history of where he’s come from, I’ve seen the amount of talent he’s developed to become great players.

“It’s a big sign of why I wanted to work under him as well,” he added.

Kudus will wear the No. 20 shirt at Tottenham as he begins a new chapter in his career.

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Kudus, who played a key role in West Ham’s journey to the Europa League quarterfinals two seasons ago, is eager to bring the same impact to Spurs as they prepare to compete in both the Premier League and the Champions League next season.

“I’m very team-oriented, so my personal goals are around helping the team get as many points as we can, to be as high as we can in the Premier League and perform really well and go as far as we can in the Champions League,” Kudus told the club’s official website after finalizing his transfer.

During his time at West Ham, the former Ajax midfielder impressed with 19 goals in 80 appearances across all competitions.

Kudus is set to make his competitive debut for Tottenham in the upcoming UEFA Super Cup clash against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain.

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His arrival comes as Tottenham prepare to return to Europe’s elite competition in the 2025/26 season.

Reflecting on the move, Kudus described joining Spurs as a major milestone in his career, highlighting his long-standing ambition to play at the highest level.

“I know how big the club is, the history, and I’ve always wanted to play at the highest level in the Champions League as well, so it’s a big moment for me,” he told the club website.

Having previously featured in the Champions League with Dutch giants Ajax, Kudus brings valuable experience to Tottenham’s European campaign.

He made nine appearances in the competition for Ajax between 2020 and 2022, scoring four goals in six group stage matches during the 2022 season.

“I think the Champions League is one of the biggest stages in football. I’ve played a couple of games at Ajax so I have a bit of history, and I know it’s top-level football and it requires a lot of quality and focus throughout the whole game, so I’m just hoping to use my individual ability to help the team go as far as we can,” he added.

Kudus’ arrival is expected to add flair and firepower to Ange Postecoglou’s squad as they look to challenge both domestically and in Europe next season.

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