Virgil van Dijk has committed to playing for the Netherlands until at least the 2026 World Cup. However, the national team coach, Ronald Koeman, has announced that Steven Bergwijn’s international career is over after the striker moved to a Saudi Arabian club.
Koeman explained that Bergwijn’s transfer to Al Ittihad from Ajax was driven by financial reasons, which he believes was the wrong choice for a player at 26 years old. Koeman mentioned that Bergwijn could have stayed at Ajax, where he would have been paid well and focused on his sporting ambitions.
When asked if Bergwijn consulted him before making the move, Koeman said that Bergwijn likely knew he wouldn’t approve. Koeman emphasized that he would not have made the same decision if he were in Bergwijn’s position.
On the other hand, Koeman made an exception for Georginio Wijnaldum, who played in the Euro 2024 tournament despite joining a Saudi Arabian club. He noted that Wijnaldum’s situation was different because of his age and the limited opportunities he had after struggling at Paris St. Germain.
