Topics: Netherlands, Ronald Koeman, Saudi Pro League, Ajax, Premier League, Football
Steven Bergwijn has hit back at Ronald Koeman after the manager brutally axed him from the Netherlands squad.
Ronald Koeman announced his Netherlands squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures, but there was one noticeable absentee.
Attacker Steven Bergwijn was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 earlier this summer, but he was not included in the latest squad.
In fact, Koeman explained that the 26-year-old's international career is 'over' after deciding to leave Ajax for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad during the summer transfer window.
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Bergwijn, who spent two years in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur before joining Ajax in 2022, completed a £17.7 million move to Al Ittihad on Monday.
During a press conference on Tuesday (September 3), Koeman slammed Bergwijn's decision and said he won't play for the Netherland's again while he is manager.
"The book is basically closed to him. He knows what I think about this," Koeman said.
"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)."
On Friday (September 6), Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf published an interview with Bergwijn in which the player hit back at Koeman.
![Steven Bergwijn has left Ajax for Al Ittihad. [Getty]](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blta90d05ad41a54a71/blt7e03c4ab3d6e5ae9/66d6d97b2e1edd56d04209de/GettyImages-2168285701.jpg)
"I don’t even want to play for this manager anymore," Bergwijn said.
"I won’t play for someone who portray me like he has done in the media. He could have called me, hear my side of the story. How can he say such things without talking to me?
"If he had been a committed national coach, he would have called me first. Now I had to hear it from the TV. I have also experienced many beautiful moments with the national coach, but I am disappointed in him.
"I have always considered it an honour to play for the Dutch national team. But under this national coach, I no longer want to do that."
When asked if his move to Al Ittihad was purely financially motivated, Bergwijn said: "It is a golden opportunity in terms of sport and finance. With a salary that I could never have dreamed of earning as a little boy.
"I can assure him [Koeman] that the competition in Saudi Arabia is better than the one in the Netherlands."
