Steven Bergwijn has criticized Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman after being excluded from the national team due to his recent move to the Saudi Pro League.
Koeman announced that the 26-year-old forward, who transferred from Ajax to Al-Ittihad, would no longer be considered for selection, suggesting that Bergwijn’s move was driven by money rather than sporting ambition.
Koeman stated, “Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at the age of 26… his book with the Dutch National Team is closed.”
Bergwijn, however, was not silent in his response, suggesting he no longer wished to play under Koeman’s tenure.
“Yes, of course. It’s sad to hear,” Bergwijn told De Telegraaf.
“Naturally. I have always considered it an honor to play for the Dutch team. But under this national coach I don’t want that anymore.”
The player’s frustration was further evident as he questioned Koeman’s approach of not speaking to him directly before going public with his decision.
Bergwijn defended his decision to move to Saudi Arabia, claiming the league is more competitive than the Eredivisie, citing the presence of top players like N’Golo Kanté and Aymeric Laporte.
He dismissed Koeman’s remarks as uninformed, stating, “The competition in Saudi Arabia is better than that in the Netherlands.”
The 35-times capped player expressed his disappointment not only with Koeman’s decision but also with his communication style.
Bergwijn remarked, “If he had been a committed national coach, he would have called me first. Now I had to hear it from the TV.”
He criticized Koeman for publicly sharing his opinions about other players as well, which he felt was unprofessional.
This incident has raised questions about Koeman’s leadership and credibility among the Dutch national squad.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
