Juba Touabi, Media365, published on Tuesday September 3, 2024 at 3:23 p.m.
Steven Bergwijn, once a mainstay of the Dutch attack, has been dropped from the national team by coach Ronald Koeman following his recent move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The Dutch coach did not mince his words when announcing the exclusion of his striker. According to the coach, at 26, Bergwijn should have prioritized his sporting career rather than financial considerations. His story with the national team is over. If you are 26, your most important ambition should be sporting and not financial. He could have stayed at Ajax, right? I’m sure they paid him well too “, he continued at a press conference.
Ronald Koeman’s decision has, however, raised questions about its consistency. While Bergwijn was excluded, Georginio Wijnaldum, who also joined Saudi club Al-Ettifaq after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, has been called up for the Netherlands’ upcoming games. This apparent inconsistency in the coach’s choices will fuel discussions among observers, who wonder about the exact criteria the coach uses to exclude certain players while calling up others in similar situations.
A start to the Nations League without Bergwijn
Steven Bergwijn’s transfer to Al-Ittihad was one of the most notable moves of the summer transfer window in the Netherlands. He left Ajax Amsterdam for a fee of €21 million. In Saudi Arabia, the left winger will receive a total salary of €27 million. This choice, although economically advantageous, seems to have a significant cost in terms of his international career.
The Netherlands will begin their Nations League group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany. These important games will be without Steven Bergwijn, a choice that could affect the team’s dynamic, although Koeman seems confident in the alternatives available. The exclusion of the 26-year-old forward could also serve as an example for other players tempted by less competitive leagues.
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