Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann has a different view to Ronald Koeman over the player’s move to Saudi Arabia.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has hit out at Ronald Koeman’s decision to close the door on Steven Bergwijn’s Netherlands move after the 26-year-old winger opted to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad in the summer, Ufabet Germany reported on Thursday.
Although it wasn’t a matter that directly concerned him, the journalist was also asked for his thoughts on Koeman’s omission of Bergwijn from the national team, and Nagelsmann understood the Dutch boss’ reasoning, albeit with a different view.
‘In general, I understand when coaches want to focus on the sporting aspect because the Saudi league is not on the same level as here in Europe, but I will not abandon it completely.’
‘If you make a decision from a purely sporting point of view, you have to give every league in the world a chance, but at the moment it’s not a top league. I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility (of calling up players from the Saudi league), ยูฟ่าเบท but I also understand my colleagues,’ Nagelsmann said.
That is about as middle ground of a position as Nagelsmann could have managed and it was likely the wise move. This is not his affair and making some kind of controversial statement on the topic would have opened up a can of worms the former TSG Hoffenheim boss simply does not need.
But it does make one wonder. None of Germany’s current key players are currently plying their trade in Saudi Arabia or another league Nagelsmann might identify as not good enough. But what if they do? What if, God forbid, Joshua Kimmich ends up leaving Bayern Munich for Saudi Arabia in 2025? What will Nagelsmann’s decision be then…