Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman says he will no longer consider Steven Bergwijn for selection after his move to Saudi Arabia.
Former winger Bergwijn completed a £21million transfer from Ajax to Al Ittihad on Monday – a switch Koeman claims is based on money.
“The book is basically closed to him,” said Koeman. “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 to Saudi Arabia].”
Asked if Bergwijn had spoken to him before signing, Koeman said: “No. I think he would have known what I would have said.”
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Georginio Wijnaldum, 33, was in the Dutch squad at Euro 2024 despite playing for Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq.
But Koeman added: “He had problems at Paris Saint-Germain and this was the only opportunity for him to play. In addition, there is a difference in age.”
Bergwijn, who has 35 international caps, was left out of the Netherlands squad for the Nations League matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany.
Meanwhile, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has committed his international future until at least the 2026 World Cup, following talks with Koeman.
Koeman said: “I thought it was so important to go to him to see and feel with him: are you going to give it your all for another two years at the highest level and do you still see a future for yourself? And he does. And I do the same with him. All doubt is gone, he just goes on.
“He admitted he did not reach the level you would expect from him as a player at the European Championship. As captain, I think he did a great job. But perhaps as a result, he put too much energy into others rather than into himself.”
