Transferred to Al-Ittihad on Monday, Steven Bergwijn may have to wait a long time to return to the Dutch national team. Called up for Euro 2024 by Ronald Koeman, the left winger will have to give up on his short-term future with the Netherlands, as the coach announced on Tuesday.
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“It is clear that this transfer has nothing to do with sporting ambition”
In a press conference, Ronald Koeman returned to the transfer of Steven Bergwijn to Saudi Arabia, leaving Ajax Amsterdam where he had been playing since 2022. “He is leaving for Saudi Arabia at 26. It is clear that this has nothing to do with sporting ambition,” commented the former Barça coach.
“His time with the Dutch national team is over,” Ronald Koeman announced. The two men did not speak about the transfer, which brought in €21 million to Ajax Amsterdam. “He probably knows what I would have said,” the coach added.
For this September gathering, with two matches in the Nations League, the Netherlands will play against Bosnia-Herzegovina this Saturday before challenging Germany next Tuesday. If Steven Bergwijn has not been called up for the occasion, he will still be able to keep hope with the case of Georginio Wijnaldum, who participated in the Euro under the orders of Ronald Koeman after a season in Saudi Arabia.
- RMC Sport