Ever since Saudi Arabia became – at least financially – the “football force,” the disputes on whether sport or monetary motives should prevail have been going on. And while many judged the stars’ decisions to join Saudi clubs, no one made such a drastic move as the Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, who crossed Steven Bergwijn out of the national team squad because the winger signed with Al-Ittihad?!Ronald Koeman did not hesitate 😮Steven Bergwijn is out! ❌ pic.twitter.com/6FqxC2AdSn— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 3, 2024 Speaking at the press conference ahead of the Oranje’s UEFA Nations League clashes with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany, the 61-year-old tactician openly admitted the reasons behind his decision to exclude Bergwijn, harshly slamming the former Tottenham player for his club choice.”The book is basically closed to him. He knows what I think about this. When you are 26, your main ambition should be sporting, not financial. These are choices that players make. I have never been in that situation, because I could go to Barcelona. He could have stayed at Ajax, that’s not bad, is it? You have to respect that choice, but personally I wouldn’t (have moved),” said Koeman.Dybala on why he turned down the Saudi offer: I wanted the national team call-upIn addition, the strategist touched on the case of Georginio Wijnaldum, who also opted for the Middle East country a year ago, signing with Al-Ettifaq. For Koeman, it’s not the same.”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,” stated the Dutchman.##NAJAVA_MECA_8312793##
