Steven Bergwijn bites back at Ronald Koeman: " I don’t even want to play for this manager anymore"

Former Tottenham player Steven Bergwijn becomes Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad's newest signing and completes the move from Ajax after a £17.7M fee was agreed between the two teams earlier this week. The transfer was not welcomed by Dutch national team manager Ronald Koeman, who has voiced his disapproval, slamming the player in a press conference on Tuesday.

"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". Bergwijn has been to excluded from the Dutch squad in their upcoming Nations League games against Bosnia and Germany. 

In an interview published by Dutch outlet 'De Telegraaf', Steven Bergwijn has fired back at the manager. 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?" he further added. 

"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." The forward counts 35 caps for the Netherlands and was part of Koeman's EURO 2024 squad where their campaign ended after losing to England. 

Despite criticism from Koeman, Bergwijn is firm on the potential of the Saudi Pro League, assuring that "the competition in Saudi Arabia is better than the one in the Netherlands". “I will play with Benzema, Kanté, Fabinho, Diaby, Pereira… I am excited to become their teammate!” he told 'De Telegraaf'.

 

September 6, 2024