Steven Bergwijn, who recently signed with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, has publicly responded to Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman’s decision to exclude him from the national team squad. Koeman’s recent announcement of the Netherlands squad for the UEFA Nations League matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany notably omitted Bergwijn, which has prompted a strong reaction from the player.
In addition to leaving Bergwijn out of the squad, Koeman criticized the winger’s decision to leave Ajax for Al-Ittihad, stating that as long as he remains the coach, Bergwijn would not be considered for future selections. Koeman’s remarks included a blunt assessment of Bergwijn’s move to Saudi Arabia, suggesting it had impacted his national team prospects negatively.
Bergwijn, who played a key role in the Netherlands’ semi-final run at Euro 2024, expressed his discontent with Koeman’s comments. In an interview with Telegraaf, Bergwijn stated, “I no longer have the desire to represent Ronald Koeman. I am unwilling to play for someone who has depicted me in the media in the way he has.”
The winger criticized Koeman for not discussing his exclusion with him personally before making public statements. “He could have conversed with me and listened to my perspective before making such remarks. How can he make such statements without consulting me?” Bergwijn questioned.
Bergwijn’s response highlights the growing tension between the player and coach, underscoring the impact of Koeman’s decisions on the dynamics of the Netherlands’ national team.
