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2 months ago
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Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has announced the retirement of one of his 26-year-old players from international duty.
At 26, Steven Bergwijn will no longer play for the Netherlands. A forced international retirement. Unhappy to see him leave for Saudi Arabia, in a championship that he seems to consider not competitive enough, Ronald Koeman cut to the chase by not calling up the Dutch winger for the Oranje’s next two matches, against Bosnia-Herzegovina (September 7) and Germany (September 10), in the Nations League.
Asked about this absence at a press conference, the Dutch coach did not beat around the bush to justify his decision. “Steven Bergwijn left for Saudi Arabia at the age of 26, it is obvious that this has nothing to do with sporting ambition. His story with the national team is over”he said, while the player has officially left Ajax Amsterdam to join the Al-Ittihad club, for 21 million euros.
Ronald Koeman definitively rules out Steven Bergwijn
“If you are 26, your most important ambition should be sporting, not financial.added the former FC Barcelona coach. He could have stayed at Ajax, right? I’m sure they paid him well too.” If Steven Bergwijn wants to play in the next major competitions with the Netherlands, including the 2026 World Cup, so he has two options: return quickly to the European continent or count on Ronald Koeman being sacked.
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Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team.
 
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