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Topics: Netherlands, Ronald Koeman, Saudi Pro League, Ajax
Ben McCrum
Topics: Netherlands, Ronald Koeman, Saudi Pro League, Ajax
Ronald Koeman has aimed another dig at Steven Bergwijn after the winger was left out the Netherlands squad for the Nations League.
Bergwijn was a shock omission from the Koeman's squad for the upcoming fixtures in the 2024/25 Nations League.
The Netherlands national manager later explained that his reasoning for leaving the 26-year-old out of the squad was due to his recent transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad.
And now, Koeman has aimed yet another dig at the forward, further criticising him for moving to the Saudi side.
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Reacting to Bergwijn's response to his initial statement, Koeman told Dutch broadcaster NOS: "It’s logical that Steven Bergwijn reacts to my words on his move to Saudi. But I stick to my words!
“Going to Saudi at 26, it’s not a transfer based on the sporting aspect."
Bergwijn's move to Al Ittihad was confirmed on Monday, with former club Ajax reportedly receiving a fee of €21million for the transfer.
A day later, Koeman spoke to reporters in a press conference about the transfer and how it had influenced his decision not to include the winger in his squad for the Nations League, and won't be bringing him back in the future.
Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, he said: "The book is basically closed to him. He knows what I think about this.
"When you are 26, your main ambition should be sporting, not financial. These are choices that players make."
On Friday, Bergwijn brutally hit back at his former manager, criticising how he had handled the situation by speaking to the media before contacting the player himself.
"I don’t even want to play for this manager anymore," Bergwijn told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.
"I won’t play for someone who portray 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?
"If he had been a committed national coach, he would have called me first. Now I had to hear it from the TV. I have also experienced many beautiful moments with the national coach, but I am disappointed in him.
"I have always considered it an honour to play for the Dutch national team. But under this national coach, I no longer want to do that."