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Trouble in the Dutch national team camp following a public spat between coach and player.
Netherlands international Steven Bergwijn has fired back at national team boss Ronald Koeman for criticising his decision to swap the Eredivisie for the Saudi Pro League.
The 26-year-old, who previously donned the Lilywhites of Tottenham, has been an Ajax player for the last three campaigns. This summer, he became the latest European talent to move to the Gulf after Al-Ittihad paid Ajax a reported €21 million for his services.
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What Koeman said
Bergwijn has been a feature in the Dutch national team since debuting in 2018. Koeman handed him his debut in a Nations League triumph against Germany and has called him up on multiple intervals since.
Following Bergwijn’s move to Saudi Arabia, a seemingly disappointed Koeman questioned the winger’s drive and motivation before declaring that his transfer has effectively put paid to his national team career.
“Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at age 26. It's clear that this has nothing to do with sportive ambition. His book with the Dutch National Team is closed. He probably knows what I would have said this,” Koeman said in a presser.
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Bergwijn’s response
The former PSV winger was angered by Koeman’s comments, as he hit back, saying the retired defender could have reached out to him personally to understand his motivations. He lashed out, saying he no longer wanted to play for the ex-Barcelona man.
“I don’t even want to play for Ronald Koeman anymore,” he told De Telegraaf, per Fabrizio Romano. “I won’t play for someone who portrays me like he has done in the media. He could have called me hear my side of the story. How can he say such things without talking to me?”
Revealing why he moved to the Saudi Pro League, he said, “Of course I’ll improve gigantic financial wise, I won’t lie. But sportive wise it’s also interesting”.
“I will play with Benzema, Kanté, Fabinho, Diaby, Pereira... I am excited to become their teammate!”
Bergwijn was not named in Koeman's Dutch squad set to play Bosnia Herzegovina and Germany this international break.
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