Ronald Koeman gives honest response when asked about omission of Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch
Ronaldo Koeman has revealed Ryan Gravenberch’s omission from the Netherlands squad is down to a grudge he holds against him.
Gravenberch joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich this summer in a deal worth £34million.
But while pushing through his transfer, Gravenberch snubbed a call up from the Netherlands Under-21 team to focus on his Anfield switch.
Now it appears his actions will have longer-lasting consequences after Dutch senior team manager Koeman overlooked the 21-year-old for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Koeman was left angered by Gravenberch’s decision not to join up with the Under-21 squad in last month’s fixtures and admitted his bitterness towards the Liverpool star during a press conference.
«We do have a certain opinion about cancelling for the Dutch Juniors or the Dutch national team,” Koeman told reporters ahead of his side’s Euro 2024 double header against France and Greece.
»But I don't think he has played much yet. Last Thursday there was a competition.
«I still think he is a great talent. I hope he can develop at Liverpool and play more, because then he will always be a player for the Dutch national team.»
And it appears that Koeman is sticking to his principles despite a spate of injuries currently cursing his squad.
The Netherlands are without Cody Gakpo, Steven Berghuis, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay, Matthijs de Ligt and Teun Koopmeiners for their crucial run of fixtures.
Under-21 coach Michael Reiziger was seemingly in agreement with Koeman’s stance and refused to call Gravenberch up for their October fixtures against Georgia and Gibraltar U21s.
Reiziger previously told Dutch outlet Nu: «Nigel de Jong (technical director at Dutch FA) has been in contact with Gravenberch, but I have not.
»It was not an
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