The head coach of the Netherlands national team, Ronald Koeman, confirmed that he will not initiate contact with Bergwijn, the star of the Saudi Union, and that the player must take the first step towards reconciliation.

Koeman added in statements reported by ESPN: "Bergwijn has to wait until a new coach comes in; he himself stated that he does not want to play under my leadership."

He clarified: "If the matter is over, then the door is closed unless he contacts me, and I will not call him."

There had been a dispute between Koeman and Bergwijn last summer when Bergwijn moved from Ajax to the Union, which Koeman considered a financial choice at the expense of sporting ambition, and the player was excluded from the Dutch national team roster.