Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has informed one of his players that his international career is effectively over following a controversial transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
The Netherlands had a surprising run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by England after Ollie Watkins scored a 90th-minute winner. Now, Koeman’s team is focused on achieving success in the Nations League, a tournament in which they reached the final during its inaugural edition in 2019.
However, the path ahead is challenging, with tough group matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, and Hungary. One notable absence in the upcoming campaign is Steven Bergwijn, who was part of the Euros squad but won’t be featuring in the foreseeable future.
The 26-year-old forward recently made a £17.7 million move from Ajax to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad. This decision has been criticized by Koeman, who accused Bergwijn of prioritizing money over ambition.
“When you are 26, your main ambition should be sporting, not financial. These are choices that players make,” Koeman stated in a press conference. “The book is basically closed to him. He knows what I think about this.”
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