Koeman keeps a door for Bergwijn in Orange closed again, or not? “He has to call”

• Thierry Boon

  reporter at the Dutch national team

Steven Bergwijn does not have to hope for a return à la Memphis Depay in Oranje. “He has to wait until the next national coach,” says Ronald Koeman with a steel face, and then put the closed door on a small, very small, crack.

With his choice of words, Koeman usually betrays a lot. Even more with his facial expression. When the name Van Bergwijn suddenly falls during the first press conference in Zeist of 2025, the national coach starts to laugh with his eyes and shake his head.

“No, I have not considered selecting him,” says Koeman’s mouth about the attacker, with whom the competition in the media still seems undecided.

The cause lies with the transfer from Bergwijn from Ajax to Al-ittihad in Saudi Arabia, last year at the end of the summer transfer period. Koeman didn’t like that. He did not call on the wing attacker and strengthened his act through words in the media.

For example, on Monday it was at the press conference and the training afterwards:

“That book is now in principle closed. His sporting ambition does not dominate his transfer. At his age (at the time 26, ed.) I would not have made that personally, but you must respect his decision,” said Koeman in September.

Bergwijn got it all from Jeddah, on which he recorded frustration in De Telegraaf: “I am ready with someone who consciously puts me in the media.” And that while Bergwijn was still debuting in Orange under Koeman, in 2018.

Then Koeman in turn reacted to those words of 35-time international (eight goals) Bergwijn: “It doesn’t affect me at all,” the coach said. And with that it remained silent.

Koeman continued with Orange, Bergwijn started his new adventure. A few months later he found his way in the team, where Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté are also big earners.

Al-Eittihad, with the French former world champion Laurent Blanc as a trainer, is the list leader in the Saudi Pro League. With ten goals and six assists in 21 duels, Bergwijn is one of the most important players.

And so his name also falls at the press conference on the eve of the quarterfinals of the Nations League against Spain. Developments turn out, says Koeman.

Causer Ali Dursun, who also provides the internationals Frenkie de Jong and Noa for a long time, contacted the national coach. “He called the situation,” said Koeman.

“I said something in the press. You can wonder if that should be that way,” says Koeman. “But he also said something. And that was even more than me. So if he thinks it should be different, I think he should call me first.”

The initiative must therefore come from Bergwijn. Although Koeman immediately builds a profit warning. Because a good bubble certainly does not mean that a return to the Dutch national team is the next step.

“I am not saying there is an opening. We can talk about it. For the rest, I say nothing.” But why would Bergwijn call at all? “Well, for fun. To ask how I am doing,” laughs Koeman. It is up to Bergwijn if he feels like it.