pwshub.com

Steven Bergwijn 'vows to NEVER play for Ronald Koeman'

Bergwijn, 26, completed a €21m (£17.7m) move from Ajax to the Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad on Monday. 

The winger was not selected for the Netherlands' upcoming Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, amid the speculation surrounding his future.

In his press conference, Koeman slammed Bergwijn over the move saying it showed a lack of 'sporting ambition'.

In comments published by Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, a frustrated Bergwijn has bit back at Koeman insisting 'that's not how you treat your players'. 

It comes after Koeman 'closed the book' on Bergwijn's international career, as he slammed the ex-Tottenham star for showing a lack of 'sporting ambition' by moving to Saudi Arabia

He said: '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, has won 35 caps for the Netherlands and was part of Koeman's squad at Euro 2024 where they reached the semi-finals before losing to England. 

And, speaking to the media on Tuesday after his group came together, Koeman hit out at Bergwijn when asked about the winger and claimed the move to Saudi Arabia has significantly impacted his international ambitions.  

'Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at the age of 26,' he said. 'It's clear that this has nothing to do with sporting ambition.

Koeman was then questioned on whether Bergwijn had discussed the move with him, before he added: 'No, he probably knows what I would have said.' 

The manager also said that the case was different to Georginio Wijnaldum who was still picked after he left Paris Saint-Germain for Al-Ettifaq last year. 

He said: 'Georginio Wijnaldum once went that way because he had a problem at Paris Saint-Germain.

'He could only go to that country to play football until January. In Bergwijn's case is that he goes at the age of 26, sporting ambition does not prevail.'

Bergwijn played 60 times for Tottenham between 2020 and 2022 before joining Ajax.  

At Al-Ittihad he will play alongside the likes of N'Golo Kante, Fabinho and Karim Benzema.  

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Related stories
1 week ago - Following that deal, Koeman claimed Bergwijn's 'book is closed' with the national team due to his lack of 'sporting ambition' as he hit out at the former Tottenham star.
2 weeks ago - He was not selected for the Netherlands' upcoming Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, amid the speculation surrounding his future.
1 week ago - Interim England boss Lee Carsley refused to rule out a return to the squad for Ivan Toney despite the striker's big-money move to Saudi Arabia.
2 weeks ago - Firm friends since playing together in the Hibs youth team more than 20 years ago, Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker remain almost inseparable.
1 month ago - England and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon (left) and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard (right) have both donated £10,000 sums to victims of the tragic Southport stabbing attack.
Other stories
1 hour ago - JOE BERNSTEIN AT THE GEWISS STADIUM: Mikel Arteta's side had to call on David Raya to pull off a fine double save from Mateo Retegui as they were forced to defend for large periods.
1 hour ago - Barcelona defender Eric Garcia was eventually sent off in Thursday's Champions League opener against AS Monaco after the referee got his cards muddled up.  
1 hour ago - Both players have become undroppable under Mikel Arteta and been credited as a major force behind the Gunners' recent Premier League title challenges.
1 hour ago - David Raya produced two moments of brilliance to stop Arsenal going behind in their Champions League opener against Atalanta on Thursday night.
1 hour ago - ISAAN KHAN AT THE GEWISS STADIUM: How David Raya denied Mateo Retegui not once, but twice, only he knows.