In a remarkable turn of events, Dutch forward Steven Bergwijn, who last week completed his transfer from Ajax to Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad, has expressed his grievances against Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman. In a recent interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Bergwijn openly criticized Koeman, declaring his unwillingness to play under the current head coach. This fallout follows Koeman’s public remarks that Bergwijn’s tenure with the national team is over due to his apparent lack of sporting ambition.
Bergwijn, who made his first appearance for the Netherlands national team in 2018 under Koeman, has since represented the Oranjes on 35 occasions, scoring eight goals and providing three assists. His recent move to Al-Ittihad, a high-profile transfer said to be worth over 21 million euros for Ajax, seems to have instigated this controversy.
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Koeman, speaking to the media earlier this week, addressed Bergwijn’s shift to the Saudi Arabian club, stating that it indicated a lack of sporting ambition. This assertion has evidently ruffled feathers, prompting an impassioned response from the player. Speaking to De Telegraaf, Bergwijn expressed his discontent at being publicly criticized without prior communication from the coach.
“I don’t even want to play for this manager anymore. I won’t play for someone who portrays 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?” Bergwijn retorted, making it clear that his relationship with Koeman has soured.
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The history between the two has been relatively positive until now. Koeman previously gave Bergwijn his international debut in a match against Germany in 2018. Since then, Bergwijn has been a key player for the national setup, contributing to various crucial matches. However, this public fallout reveals a much more strained relationship between the forward and his mentor than previously understood.
The 25-year-old forward’s decision to switch to Al-Ittihad has sparked much debate among football fans and pundits alike.
. Some argue that the move to the Saudi Pro League, which is rapidly attempting to attract talent from Europe, shows Bergwijn’s willingness to embrace new challenges and grow. Others, like Koeman, interpret it as a step down in terms of competition and quality, a move driven more by financial gain than sporting excellence.
In his interview, Bergwijn did not hold back in expressing his dissatisfaction with how Koeman handled the situation. “You don’t say such things in public without speaking to the player first. It’s not professional and it certainly does not reflect well on him as a coach,” Bergwijn stressed, hinting at a deeper discontent with Koeman’s leadership style.
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Further complicating the situation is the Dutch national team’s current standing. After an underwhelming performance in recent fixtures, the team finds itself in need of experienced and dependable players. Losing a player like Bergwijn, who brings both skill and international experience to the table, could be a significant setback, especially as the team gears up for upcoming international competitions.
Ajax, meanwhile, has benefitted considerably from the transfer, securing over 21 million euros from Al-Ittihad. This influx of funds could be pivotal for the club, allowing them to reinforce their squad with new talent. Al-Ittihad, on the other hand, is enthusiastic about their new signing, seeing Bergwijn as a marquee addition capable of elevating the team’s performance in regional and international contests.
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The situation has also drawn reactions from fans, with social media buzzing with opinions on both sides. While some supporters sympathize with Bergwijn and criticize Koeman for his approach, others back Koeman’s assertion, highlighting the importance of ambition and competition in a player’s career.
As Bergwijn adjusts to his new life in Saudi Arabia, the Dutch national team remains in a state of flux. The coming months will be crucial in determining how this high-profile dispute impacts both the player’s and the national team’s future. Bergwijn, though, has made his stance clear—he refuses to play under Ronald Koeman given the current circumstances. The ball is now in Koeman’s court as to how he will navigate this tense and highly publicized conflict.
