Liverpool’s most recent signing, Ryan Gravenberch, found himself at odds with the Netherlands national team bosses after politely declining a call-up to the squad last month.
Despite being selected for Michael Reiziger’s Under-21 squad, Gravenberch chose to focus on settling into his new surroundings at Liverpool and England as a whole.
This decision did not sit well with Ronald Koeman, the current custodian of the senior team and former Everton boss, who expressed his vexation at Gravenberch’s choice.
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Gravenberch’s decision to prioritize his club integration seems to have paid off. Since joining Liverpool, he has already made seven appearances and scored his first goal for the club, along with providing two assists. His performances have boosted his confidence and contributed to Liverpool’s success in recent matches.
However, despite his impressive form, Gravenberch was not included in the Netherlands’ final squad announcement this week. The senior team saw outfield players Noa Lang and Steven Berghuis drop out due to injury, while Teun Koopmeiners’ fitness was still being assessed. In their place, Calvin Stengs of Feyenoord and Ian Maatsen of Chelsea were called up. Meanwhile, Julian Baas of Excelsior Rotterdam took Gravenberch’s spot in the Under-21 squad.
Reiziger, explaining the situation, emphasized that Gravenberch still had potential and deserved another chance.
“It would be strange if it were now over with him [Gravenberch] at the Dutch Juniors,” Reiziger said (via NU.nl). “He is a boy with a lot of potential and he is still young. I think that a person always deserves an extra chance. Not everyone makes the best decisions or one where you see the consequences of this.
“Nigel [de Jong, director of football at the KNVB] has had contact with him, but I have not. It was not an option to call him up now. The signal has now been sent to him, but you are still busy with a group. It is something you have to want to belong to.
“I don’t know if this is a one-off. But we are not going to write off young players anyway.”
Koeman also shared his thoughts on Gravenberch’s absence from the national team. “We have a certain opinion about players who opt out of the Dutch Juniors or Oranje,” the Netherlands boss said.
“Moreover, Gravenberch has not played much at Livepool yet. I hope he will develop further at Liverpool. He is a great talent. If he plays a lot at his club, he is always an option for the Dutch team.”
For now, Liverpool and Gravenberch are the ones benefiting from the Netherlands’ decision. Gravenberch avoids the risk of injury and gains extra time to train under Jürgen Klopp’s guidance. This additional training will help him adapt to Liverpool’s demanding style of play, potentially positioning him for a starting role in the upcoming Merseyside derby against Everton.
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