Lyon won 2-1 at Saint-Étienne over the weekend
Memphis Depay has used his Twitter account to respond to the Saint-Étienne supporters who held aloft a cruel banner about his troubled history with his father during the Ligue 1 game with Lyon on Sunday.
‘Memphis – 5 million followers but no dad, ‘ the banner unfurled by some of the home supporters at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium read.
The Dutch international has spoken in the past about how his father left him and his mother when he was a small child.
Having seen a picture of the banner on social media, the 24-year-old initially responded by correcting its reference to his Instagram following, which actually stands at 5.9 million.
5,9 btw pic.twitter.com/yzWsv1UFne
— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 21, 2019
Following this, he insisted he had nothing against those responsible for the banner, suggesting it was made as a result of jealousy.
He wrote: ‘I have nothing against the people who did this. I know they low key love me!
‘I also know they mad they just mad they don’t have 1 player with the same quality like me.
‘It doesn’t bother me 1 second, I just wanted to say some things about it. 0 points against us this season i can imagine what that feels like. Should I continue…?
‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, I leave it by that! God bless everybody! Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only love can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, love can do that.’
I have nothing against the people who did this. I know they low key love me!
— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 21, 2019
I also know they mad they just mad they don’t have 1 player with the same quality like me 🤭😂
— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 21, 2019
It doesn’t bother me 1 second, I just wanted to say some things about it.
0 points against us this season i can imagine what that feels like 🤕— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) January 21, 2019
Memphis, who started his career at PSV Eindhoven, moved to Lyon in January 2017 after an underwhelming 18-months spell at Manchester United. Since his arrival in France, his performances have steadily improved and he has also played a key role in the resurgence of the Dutch national side, who will face England in the Uefa Nations League semi-finals in summer.