Ronald Koeman brutally ends former Tottenham star’s worldwide profession after shock Saudi Arabia transfer – as Netherlands boss claims ‘his e-book is closed’ with the nationwide staff

Netherlands supervisor Ronald Koeman has slammed Steven Bergwijn after the winger joined Saudi Arabian facet Al-Ittihad. 

Bergwijn, 26, accomplished a €21m (£17.7m) transfer from Ajax to the Saudi Professional League (SPL) giants on Monday.

The switch delivered to an finish Bergwijn’s two-year spell in Amsterdam, with the winger excelling within the Dutch capital by scoring 29 targets and including 12 assists in 80 video games.

The 26-year-old, who beforehand performed for PSV and Tottenham, has additionally gained 35 caps for the Netherlands and was a part of Koeman’s squad at Euro 2024 the place they reached the semi-finals earlier than shedding to England.

Nonetheless, Bergwijn was not chosen for his or her upcoming Nations League fixtures towards Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, amid the hypothesis surrounding his future.

Steven Bergwijn accomplished a £17.7m switch to Saudi Professional League facet Al-Ittihad from Ajax

Koeman hit out at Bergwijn and insisted ‘his e-book with the Dutch Nationwide Staff is closed’

And, chatting with the media on Tuesday after his group got here collectively, Koeman hit out at Bergwijn when requested in regards to the winger and claimed the transfer to Saudi Arabia has considerably impacted his worldwide ambitions.  

‘Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia on the age of 26,’ he stated. ‘It is clear that this has nothing to do with sporting ambition.

‘His e-book with the Dutch Nationwide Staff is closed.’

Koeman was then questioned on whether or not Bergwijn had mentioned the transfer with him, earlier than he added: ‘No, he in all probability is aware of what I might have stated.’

Talking after the switch was confirmed, Ajax technical director Alex Kroes opened up additional on the deal as he stated: ‘Steven and Ajax have made no secret of the truth that, if a great supply got here from overseas, he would make the transfer. 

‘That has now occurred on the final minute, giving the membership the required monetary flexibility to hopefully herald an appropriate alternative within the quick time period. 

‘We now have wished our captain from final season a lot success within the subsequent stage of his profession.’ 

Bergwijn was a part of the Netherlands squad at Euro 2024 and has 35 caps for his nation

Koeman additionally revealed that Bergwijn had not consulted him forward of his switch to Al-Ittihad

Bergwijn, who broke by means of at PSV, is ready to hyperlink up with the likes of Karim Benzema, Fabinho, Moussa Diaby and N’Golo Kante at Al-Ittihad.

He’ll play below former France and PSG boss Laurent Blanc, with the Frenchman hoping to supervise a a lot better marketing campaign than Al-Ittihad’s fifth place end final season. 

They’ve gained each of their video games thus far this season, and return to motion after the worldwide break with a house conflict towards Al-Wehda.