With another international break upon us club matters can take a back seat, though it’s a decision that Steven Bergwijn has made at club level that has irritated Dutch national team manager, Ronald Koeman.
A colourful character, Koeman doesn’t suffer fools gladly and tells it as it is, regardless of the narratives trying to be painted.
Think at the way he was treated by Barcelona when they wanted to bring Xavi in as a prime example.
As the club looked to do their best PR job on what was becoming a fiasco, Koeman cut right through the nonsense and seemingly gave reporters what they wanted to hear.
Now the 61-year-old’s ire has been directed squarely in Bergwijn’s direction.
At just 26 years of age, the player has decided to swap playing for the Eredivisie giants, Ajax, and join Al Ittihad of the Saudi Pro League.
Let’s not forget that the SPL is only the 68th best league in the world (Team Form) and even the likes of Azerbaijan’s Premyer Liqa, the Georgian Erovnuli Liga and Israeli Ligat ha’Al are considered as more competitive, with respect.
No wonder Koeman is miffed about Bergwijn’s decision.
So much so that his anger has seen to it that the player no longer has a future at national team level.
??? Koeman: “Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at age 26. It's clear that this has nothing to do with sportive ambition. His book with the Dutch National Team is closed."
“He probably knows what I would have said this”. pic.twitter.com/0piWULcsFK
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 3, 2024
“Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at age 26,” Koeman was quoted as saying by CaughtOffside columnist and transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.
“It’s clear that this has nothing to do with sportive ambition. His book with the Dutch National Team is closed.
“He probably knows that I would have said this.”
The former Tottenham Hotspur player might therefore consider that his future at the elite level of European football is over.
Like so many before him, he’s clearly seen the attraction of unimaginable riches as more important than winning trophies in Europe.
Maybe other managers in future might start to follow Koeman’s lead.
The post Ronald Koeman makes brutal Steven Bergwijn decision that forward will be disgusted by appeared first on CaughtOffside.
