Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch decides to stay at Liverpool and rejects the chance to join the Netherlands squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers
Netherlands national team manager Ronald Koeman and his coaching staff are not happy with Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch for refusing to accept a call-up for the upcoming international matches this month.
Gravenberch, who recently moved from Bayern Munich to Liverpool for a fee of €40m plus €5m in add-ons (£34m) during the summer transfer window, has decided not to join the Dutch national squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. This decision to exclude himself from the squad was entirely his own choice.
Rather than joining his national team to build on his 11 senior caps, the 21-year-old has opted to dedicate this time to adapting to his new environment at Liverpool. While this might appear reasonable, given that the Red’s next match isn’t until September 16, it has failed to win the approval of Koeman and his team staff.
The midfielder’s choice has angered U21s manager Michael Reiziger and the Netherlands national team manager Koeman. It could potentially have a negative impact on his chances of representing his country in the near future.
It is a risky move considering the fact that the Dutch manager has the authority to exclude Gravenberch from upcoming squad selections if he wants to. The former Everton and Barcelona manager was questioned about this matter during a press conference on Monday. As quoted by the Liverpool Echo, he said:
“We’re not happy about that. Nigel de Jong (assistant) has been in touch with him.”
Meanwhile, Netherlands Under-21 coach Reiziger was also not happy with the midfielder’s poor decision. Speaking to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, he said:
“I don’t think it’s a good decision, I told him that. I really don’t think it’s good. For a national team, for your country, you have to play with your heart. Not with your head. So you really have to want to be there. That is just important to me”
During the September international break, the senior Dutch national team, led by Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk, is scheduled to participate in Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.
Gravenberch had a consistent role, playing the entire 90 minutes in all of the Netherlands Under-21s’ matches at the European Championship over the summer, even though their team did not advance past the group stage.
In contrast, he has had minimal playing time with the senior national squad since the start of 2022, with just one minute of action in a UEFA Nations League game against Belgium in September.
While the former Bayern star would be eager to rejoin the senior Dutch national team in the future and hopes for a fresh start with Liverpool, his recent decision has not started things off on the right foot.
Nevertheless, he remains fully committed to preparing for his upcoming debut for the club, likely against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break. Gravenberch’s choice highlights his determination to seamlessly integrate into Liverpool’s midfield and make a significant impact in the Premier League.
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This is particularly important as the Reds have seen the departures of key players like Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and James Milner, leaving an important role for the former Ajax player to fill.
