Corinthians striker Memphis Depay has explained why he was using a mobile phone while on the substitutes’ bench during a Brazilian top-flight match.

The Netherlands forward was pictured by television cameras using a phone in the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Flamengo.

Depay, 32, had been taken off in the 22nd minute of the game and has said he was providing the Dutch camp with an update on his fitness before the international break.

“Just to clarify my moment with the phone was pure to communicate with the medical staff in the Netherlands at that moment,” Depay wrote on X, external.

“I came outside to show support to my team while I could’ve stayed inside the dressing room with the injury.”

Depay added that he was “upset with the result of the game” and will “keep working for better days”.

The former Manchester United and Barcelona forward, who has been capped 108 times by the Netherlands and is their record goalscorer, joined Corinthians in September 2024.