Tag: Netherlands

Netherlands FA contact Pep Guardiola about manager position

A report from The Mirror has stated that the Netherlands Football Association, KNVB, is courting Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola about taking over the role of manager when his contract at Manchester City runs out.

The City boss harbours dreams of coaching on the international stage and it is believed he will begin to pursue this dream after his contract at City runs out.

Managing Spain is out of the question because Guardiola is a staunch supporter of Catalan independence. The Spaniard is also interested in South American football and has previously been approached by Lionel Messi’s Argentina who tried to tempt him away with the possibility of reuniting with the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The 51-year-old former Barcelona manager will be free from all City responsibilities in 2023 but the hierarchy at the Etihad is working to convince Guardiola to extend his contract beyond that time. However, the KNVB are also drawing up plans to convince the Spaniard to “bring total football home” as the Netherlands national team coach.

The Mirror reports also that the KNVB have been in touch with Guardiola, who played and learnt under Dutch icon Johan Cruyff, about the position as head of their national team since before his contract extension at City which will keep him at the club until 2023.

The Dutch FA were told that the league leaders’ boss had unfinished business at the Etihad – which many speculate to be the UEFA Champions League – but were not outrightly dismissed which opens the possibility to a future link up.

Another thing that tips the scales in the favour of the KNVB is that Guardiola’s agent, his brother Pere, recently joined forces with one of the biggest Dutch football agencies SEG.

Guardiola beats Ferguson to Premier League record

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola achieved a milestone in the Premier League after his draw away to Southampton on Saturday.

Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s stadium by Southampton to end their winning run at 12 matches and start their unbeaten run in the 13th game.

The single point earned by City saw Guardiola become the fastest manager to win 500 points in the Premier League, a feat the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager reached in 213 games in charge of City.

That makes him the fastest manager to achieve the record, beating Jose Mourinho (231), Jurgen Klopp (236), Sir Alex Ferguson (242), Arsene Wenger (249) and Rafa Benitez (267).

Guardiola, who is currently on track to his fourth Premier League title in his six years at Manchester City, claims that the tough draw at Southampton shows that City’s successes should not be taken for granted.

“That’s why it [Premier League] is the hardest prize to achieve every season, the most important one,” he said after the game.

“It’s so difficult, with different contenders, everyone is ready. We are the reigning champions, we have won a lot in the past, and it’s not so funny for the rest, so it’s more difficult to win and win.

“That’s why making back-to-back titles in the last 12, 13 years has happened only once, which was ourselves, and now we’re trying to do it again.

“We know how difficult it is and I don’t need to win, draw or lose today to know that we still have a lot of games to play. What we have to do is try to behave and play the way we played today.

“Even winning today, the title race would not be over. In January, no one is champion, there are many games that must be played.”

Inter Milan confident of landing 25-year-old goalkeeper amidst Barcelona interest

Inter Milan are confident of bringing in-demand goalkeeper, André Onana, from Ajax Amsterdam to San Siro next season despite major interest from Barcelona, according to the latest reports.

André Onana’s contract at Ajax expires in June 2022 and both parties have not come to any conclusions on a contract extension, even though Ajax wants to keep the Cameroonian at the club beyond the summer of 2022.

Onana was the subject of several transfer speculations over the summer including clubs in the Premier League, Serie A and Barcelona, but now looks to be heading to Inter Milan when his time at Ajax is done.

Onana had previously hinted at an exit from the Eredivisie giants last month. Speaking after his return to competitive football with Ajax in their UEFA Champions League match against Besiktas following a doping ban, Onana mentioned that he’s the only one left from the Ajax side who impressed the world four seasons ago.

“When you open a door, at some point you have to close it,” the 25-year-old goalkeeper began. Maybe it is time for me to go. I have done my best for this club and accomplished everything I could. We have won a lot together. When I see the pictures of the Europa League final in 2017, I think I am the last one still here. That was a really great season.”

Inter and Barcelona have remained the most interested in Onana’s services, but the Nerazzurri are now reportedly in pole position to sign Onana on a free next season.

Fabrizio Romano, per Calciomercato, claims that Internazionale have a verbal agreement with the goalkeeper to replace their 37-year-old club captain Samir Handanovich in goal for the next four years. Catalan outlet El Nacional also confirms that Barcelona is facing an uphill task to get their former academy ace back to Camp Nou as Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s replacement.

El Nacional reports that Ter Stegen is being considered for transfer due to the club’s financial situation, and Onana has been earmarked as a potential replacement for the German who is courting interest for the like of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Catalan outlet also claims that Barcelona is looking to use the funds they get from Ter Stegen to fund a transfer for Erling Haaland.

And La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Onana will earn €3 million per year at Inter, although it is not sure if he will immediately take over as the first choice goalkeeper from Samir Handanovic, whose contract at Inter is also in its final stages.

Ajax open to releasing Onana despite hopes of keeping him

Ajax are still hoping they can work out a contract between the club and the Cameroonian international who will be leaving the club for the African Cup of Nations tournament in January, hosted by his home country.

However, the club has stated in the past that they cannot force the goalkeeper to a new contract and will let him leave for free when his current contract expires in June 2022 if he doesn’t sign by then.

“We’ve been very clear. We have been trying to extend his contract for some time. That has not worked out then you allow for him to make a transfer in this past window, that also didn’t work out,” Ajax director of football, Marc Overmars told the club’s media in September.

He added: “You never know in football. But I have to say that, at the moment, I don’t see that [Onana’s contract extension] happening.

“It’s possible but at a certain point it still has to be for a decent sum of money. Otherwise, as I said, we have to go our separate ways. If the offer is not enough, then he’ll leave in July for free.”

Ajax looks to out-of-favour Tottenham winger as attacking reinforcement

Ajax Amsterdam have reportedly expressed an interest in signing academy player and current Tottenham Hotspur forward Steven Bergwijn on loan in January.

Bergwijn spent three years in the famous Ajax Amsterdam academy before moving to PSV Eindhoven to continue his development.

He made his debut for PSV’s senior team in 2014 while still in the PSV youth setup and in 2017 he finally nailed promotion to the senior team where he impressed and became one of the most sought-after wingers in football during his three-year senior team career at the club.

The 24-year-old joined Tottenham Hotspur who fended off interest from Barcelona and Inter Milan to sign the forward from PSV Eindhoven in January 2020 in a deal worth around £26.7million.

He was a mainstay in José Mourinho’s Spurs, getting the Mourinho treatment sometimes but being called upon regularly. However, he has struggled for game-time under new head coach Antonio Conte, who seems not to be keen on using the Dutchman.

Conte doesn’t believe in him, Dutch reporter claims

The Dutch reporter who is the source of this news claims that new Spurs head coach Antonio Conte is not the biggest fan of the 24-year-old.

“Conte doesn’t see it in him at all,” said the Dutch football reporter, Mike Vermeij.

“Conte is also the one who thwarted Bergwijn’s transfer from PSV to Italy. Inter Milan were interested at the time but Conte didn’t need him. 

“Conte has only said two words to Bergwijn in two weeks at Tottenham Hotspur. That is why Ajax can consider (signing) him.”

Bergwijn has not found it as easy as when he first joined the club and could consider a return to a club where he started his youth career, according to Vermeij.

Antonio Conte responds to Bergwijn transfer speculations

In the press conference on Wednesday ahead of the Spurs versus Brentford match, Conte responded to questions about the speculation that Bergwijn could join Ajax in the January transfer window.

“We are talking about a player that has important skills,” the Italian manager said. “It was a pity for me but not for the national team that he scored [during the November international break].

“I would have liked to have had him during the two weeks of the international break to know him much better. But he has great quality – he’s great one-vs-one, very fast, great quality to beat the man and score.

“Now we are working, he is understanding what I want from him. For me he’s one of the three strikers, he can play in every three positions for the strikers.

“He is a player I have to make an important evaluation [of] but he is in our squad and I count on him.

“[Against Brentford] he’s ready and available. Against Mura he had a problem and otherwise he should have played, but tomorrow he’s available.”