Begrwijn lashes out against Koeman for excluding him from national team over Saudi move

Steven Bergwijn lashed out at national coach Ronald Koeman for excluding him from the national team because of his transfer from Ajax to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. The striker told De Telegraaf that he heard about this on the television and has had enough of people who badmouth him in the media.

“That is not how you treat players. I have always considered it an honor to play for the Dutch national team, but I no longer want to do that under this coach. I am done with someone who deliberately portrays me like that in the media.”

During a press conference for the Nations League on Tuesday, Koeman criticized Bergwijn’s transfer to Saudi Arabia. He said he did not understand why the striker, at age 26, would transfer to a competition with a low sporting reputation. “In Steven’s case, this step at that age does not show that sporting ambition is the most important thing,” Koeman said.

That’s a “pity to hear,” Bergwijn told the newspaper. “If he had been a committed national coach, he would have called me first. Now I had to hear it from the television. I have experienced many beautiful moments with the national coach, and I am disappointed with him. That is not how you treat your own players. If he continues like this, he will lose his credibility.”

He also pointed out that Koeman did include Georginio Wijnaldum, who plays for Al-Ettifaq, in his European Championship selection. “So one player can leave the Eredivisie to develop himself, and I have to stay?” Bergwijn said. “The national coach knows very well that the competition in Saudi Arabia is at an excellent level. Or are you only allowed to make such a move when you are 32?”

“I am improving in every way, and I am a thousand percent behind my choice,” Bergwijn said. “I can assure him that the competition there is better than in the Netherlands. Look at the top players playing there, and in the preparation, Al-Ittihad won against Internatizoinale. Kanté has been playing there for a year and was the best man against the Dutch at the European Championship. And Aymeric Laporte, playing for Al-Nassr, became European champion with Spain.”