Koeman slams Bergwijn and bars winger from Netherlands duty

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman says he will no longer be selecting Steven Bergwijn after he moved to the Saudi Pro League.

The 26-year-old joined Al-Ittihad from Ajax for a fee of around £17.7million this week, ending his time in his homeland.

Bergwijn, who also played for PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham, has earned 35 caps for his country, featuring twice at Euro 2024 this summer.

Speaking at a press conference, Koeman 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.

“I have never been in that situation, because I could go to Barcelona. He could have stayed at Ajax, that’s not bad, is it? You have to respect that choice, but personally I wouldn’t (have moved).”

Ronald Koeman did not hesitate 😮

Steven Bergwijn is out! ❌ pic.twitter.com/6FqxC2AdSn

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 3, 2024

The Netherlands face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Eindhoven on Saturday.

Memphis Depay, Marten de Roon and Georgino Wijnaldum have also been left out.

But Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is included, and Koeman admits he spoke to the defender about his future before making a decision.

He added: “I thought it was so important to go to him to see and feel with him.

“Are you going to give it your all for another two years at the highest level and do you still see a future for yourself? And he does. And I do the same with him. All doubt is gone, he just goes on.

“He admitted he did not reach the level you would expect from him as a player at the European Championship.

“As captain, I think he did a great job. But perhaps as a result, he put too much energy into others rather than into himself.”