Steven Bergwijn Lashes Out At Ronald Koeman- “You don’t treat players like that”

Dutch footballer Steven Bergwijn recently made a move from Ajax to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. Netherlands football team head coach, Ronald Koeman recently released the list of players for the Netherlands squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League. In the squad released, Steven Bergwijn's name was missing which came as a shock to many as the player was a part of the team that recently reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro tournament. Koeman then in a press conference revealed that he had decided to axe Bergwijn from the squad because he had decided to transfer to the Saudi Pro League.

The Netherlands footballer has now hit back at Ronald Koeman for his statements.  

“You don’t treat players like that”- Bergwijn 

Steven Bergwijn has hit out at Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman for shutting the door on his international career because of a move to Saudi Arabia.

The 26-year-old forward was accused by Koeman of lacking “sporting ambition” after leaving Ajax for Al-Ittihad on Monday, and won't be considered for selection. 

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Bergwijn, who has played for the Dutch national team since 2018 and was part of the squad for the recent European Championship, saw Koeman’s critical comments — made in a news conference on Tuesday — on the television and was hurt by them.

“You don’t treat players like that,” he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “I have always considered it an honor to play for the Dutch team, but under this coach I no longer want that. 

Bergwijn Dissapointed In Koeman 

“I am done with someone who deliberately portrays me like this in the media.”

Bergwijn said he was “disappointed” in Koeman for not talking to him first and doesn't want to play under him anymore. 

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Koeman selected Bergwijn to start in the last 16 and quarterfinals at Euro 2024, while the former Tottenham forward also started against Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals in 2022, when the Dutch were led by veteran coach Louis van Gaal.

The Netherlands have Nations League matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and Germany on Tuesday. 

(With AP Inputs)