Recently, Dutch football has been buzzing with news about Steven Bergwijn’s transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman.
Koeman didn’t hold back his disappointment regarding Bergwijn’s decision to leave Europe for the Saudi Pro League.
A Big Move
Steven Bergwijn, the 26-year-old winger, made headlines with his €21 million transfer from Ajax to Al-Ittihad.
This move ends his two-year stint with Ajax, where he made quite an impact, scoring 29 goals and providing 12 assists in 80 matches.
Prior to Ajax, Bergwijn had spells with PSV and Tottenham, and he’s also earned 35 caps for the Netherlands national team.
Koeman’s Reaction
Koeman, who had Bergwijn in his squad during Euro 2024, expressed his frustration over the transfer.
When asked about Bergwijn’s move, Koeman didn’t mince words.
He suggested that the decision to move to Saudi Arabia was more about financial gain than sporting ambition.
“Steven Bergwijn goes to Saudi Arabia at the age of 26,” Koeman said.
“It’s clear that this has nothing to do with sporting ambition.
His book with the Dutch National Team is closed.”
No Prior Discussion
Koeman was also asked if Bergwijn had talked to him about the move before making his decision.
Koeman responded, “No, he probably knows what I would have said.”
This comment further emphasized his disapproval of the move.
Ajax’s Perspective
On the other side of the story, Ajax’s technical director, Alex Kroes, commented on the transfer after it was finalized.
Kroes noted that both Ajax and Bergwijn had been open about the possibility of a move if a good offer came in.
He acknowledged that the transfer was timed to give Ajax some financial flexibility to find a suitable replacement.
“We have wished our captain from last season much success in the next stage of his career,” Kroes added.
New Beginnings for Bergwijn
Bergwijn’s new adventure at Al-Ittihad will see him join a squad featuring stars like Karim Benzema, Fabinho, Moussa Diaby, and N’Golo Kante.
He’ll be playing under Laurent Blanc, the former France and PSG manager, who is eager to lead Al-Ittihad to a better finish than their 5th place from last season.
The team has started strong this season with two wins and will be back in action after the international break, facing Al-Wehda at home.
What’s Next?
As Bergwijn embarks on this new chapter, the football world will be watching closely to see how his move impacts both his career and Al-Ittihad’s performance this season.
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