Al-Ittihad star Steven Bergwijn has blasted Ronald Koeman after the supervisor dropped him from the Netherlands’ UEFA Nations League squad. Bergwijn claimed the Saudi Professional League was higher than Eredivisie and stated he didn’t wish to play below Koeman anymore.
Ronald Koeman Axes Steven Bergwijn From Netherlands Squad After Saudi Change
In a shocking transfer, Bergwijn joined Saudi Professional League facet Al-Ittihad from Eredivisie outfit Ajax in a £17.7 million ($23.32 million) transfer towards the top of the 2024-25 summer time switch window. He signed a three-year cope with the membership.
Within the aftermath of his change, Koeman dropped Bergwijn from his Netherlands squad for the UEFA Nations League, bluntly stating he wouldn’t name him as much as the nationwide crew anymore.
“In Bergwijn’s case is that he goes on the age of 26, sporting ambition doesn’t prevail. Not everybody thinks, happily, the identical method. I feel if you end up 26 the primary ambition ought to be sporting and never monetary, however these are selections gamers make.
“He may have stayed at Ajax, couldn’t he? And I feel they pay OK at Ajax too. However sure, it’s his alternative. haven’t been in that state of affairs myself. I may go to Barcelona. I feel if Bergwijn may have gone to Barcelona, he wouldn’t have gone to Saudi Arabia both. The ebook is mainly closed for him, although. He has not contacted me about this. I feel he is aware of how I take into consideration this.”
Steven Bergwijn Says He Does Not Need To Play Beneath Ronald Koeman
Responding to Koeman’s explosive feedback and Netherlands snub, the Saudi Professional League star stated (by way of GOAL):
“I don’t even wish to play for this supervisor anymore. I received’t play for somebody who portrays me like he has executed within the media. He may have known as me to listen to my facet of the story. How can he say such issues with out speaking to me? If he had been a dedicated nationwide coach, he would have known as me first.
“Now I needed to hear it from the TV. I’ve additionally skilled many stunning moments with the nationwide coach, however I’m disenchanted in him. I’ve all the time thought-about it an honor to play for the Dutch nationwide crew. However below this nationwide coach, I not wish to try this.”
He continued:
“It’s a golden alternative by way of sport and finance.
“With a wage that I may by no means have dreamed of incomes as slightly boy. I can guarantee him [Koeman] that the competitors in Saudi Arabia is healthier than the one within the Netherlands.”
Berwijn, who has additionally performed for PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur, was one of many key gamers for the Netherlands within the 2024 European Championships. The left-winger has up to now performed 35 video games for Oranje, scoring eight occasions and offering three assists.
