Dutch national team coach Ronald Koeman said Memphis Depay’s support for Quincy Promes was “not helpful”, after the former international was sentenced to six years in prison.
Promes is currently in prison in Dubai after being arrested by authorities last week at the request of Dutch prosecutors, ahead of his possible extradition.
The 32-year-old was convicted last month by an Amsterdam court for his involvement in trafficking more than 1,350 kilos of cocaine.
In addition to his six-year sentence in a Dutch prison, he was also sentenced to a year and a half in prison last year for stabbing his cousin in the leg.
Promes, who lives in Russia and plays for CSKA Moscow, was convicted in absentia.
Ronald Koeman advised Memphis Depay after his public support for Quincy Promes
Depay, right, was criticized for posting a photo of Promes, left, online in January, when the former Dutch international was facing criminal charges in the Netherlands.
Quincy Promes was arrested in Dubai last week after being sentenced last month to six years in prison for his role in cocaine trafficking.
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Depay sent a message of support to Promes after scoring the winning goal in the Russian Cup final last year, saying people “continue to prejudge you without any criminal offense being proven.”
In January, Depay uploaded a now-deleted photo on social media of him on vacation with Promes and Paul Pogba.
Koeman was asked about Depay’s public show of support for Promes during a press conference ahead of the upcoming international friendlies.
The Dutch national team coach revealed that technical director Nigel de Jong spoke to Depay about his positions, while suggesting the striker to “stay away” as much as possible.
“I wouldn’t do it myself. I didn’t talk about it myself in Memphis. Nigel did that,” Koeman told reporters.
“You can sometimes make it easier on yourself by not doing things like that. This arouses dislike and criticism. I think you should keep this away from you as much as possible.
“They are friends and it is conceivable that he would do it, but of course it is a delicate issue.”
Depay was also asked by journalists about his support for Promes, who has already won 50 national team caps.
Koeman revealed technical director Nigel de Jong spoke to Depay about his messages
Depay told reporters he ‘didn’t see any harm’ in sharing a photo showing Promes in January
The attacker defended his decision to post the photo in January.
“We are football players and we publish a lot of content. At least I do. It was just a vacation photo, I didn’t see anything wrong with it. I understand that the outside world sees things differently and I take responsibility for that,” Depay said. De Telegraaf.
“I have friends, when you go out to eat together, you don’t know exactly what they do and what they don’t do. Or that you agree with everything someone does.
“You don’t know the Quincy Promes I know. I don’t know the Quincy Promes you know or describe.
“I don’t know Quincy, but I don’t come from an easy background. Once people read my book, they will understand it. I have a brother who was incarcerated for ten years. Quincy is a famous person, but not my brother. But I never get questions about my brother.
“I am also friends with Dani Alves and Benjamin Mendy. I’ve never had any questions about this before.
Depay added that he would speak to Koeman about the matter privately and insisted he had no problem with the Dutch national team boss expressing his opinion.
“I think it’s pretty logical that everyone has an opinion and it makes sense for the coach to answer a question when he gets it. And let him give his opinion on that. I haven’t discussed it personally with him yet,” Depay said.
“The coach and I have a great relationship, which also extends off the field. Of course, I played for him at Barcelona. An opinion is always welcome, especially when he says it.
“We can talk about it privately, and that’s what we will do.”
Depay revealed he would speak privately to Koeman about the matter and insisted he had no problem with the Dutch national team boss giving his opinion.
The striker, pictured training with Promes in 2020, claimed people ‘don’t know the Quincy Promes I know’
Promes, who has 50 international caps for the Netherlands, was convicted last month by an Amsterdam court for his involvement in trafficking more than 1,350 kilos of cocaine.
Promes and a 32-year-old co-suspect were convicted of importing, exporting, transporting and possessing cocaine last month.
The cocaine was allegedly hidden in a shipment of sea salt from Brazil and was intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020.
Promes, who also played for Sevilla and Ajax, did not show up for his trial on cocaine trafficking charges or when he was found guilty of stabbing his cousin in the leg.
Other reports suggest the former Netherlands international feels “untouchable” – given he has avoided attending court hearings.
According to NL Timesprosecutors said: “He seems to think he is untouchable in Russia or abroad.”
Dutch authorities had initially sought a nine-year prison sentence for the Spartak Moscow striker when the case came forward last month.
Starting his career at Twente, he spent four years at Spartak between 2014 and 2018 before signing for Spanish club Sevilla.
From there he spent a season and a half with Ajax before returning to Spartak.