Ronald Koeman has been in contact with about a possible return to the Dutch national team. In recent months, De Jong has occasionally kept the door ajar for the Dutch team, after he announced his retirement as an international player in March. Koeman wanted to know from De Jong exactly what happened.
The national coach notices that De Jong is still regularly asked about a return. This is partly due to his good form at PSV, the striker problem at Oranje and the fact that De Jong sometimes leaves the door open. “Maybe Luuk should have said a little louder that he was not available,” says Koeman Rondo. “Of course I am in contact with Luuk. I also called him afterwards (after recent statements by De Jong about the Dutch team, ed.). ‘What is it now? Is it yes or no? Should I call you?’”
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Koeman had a clear message for the 33-year-old striker in the telephone conversation. “I said: ‘Let’s agree on one thing: if you want to be in the picture, you give me a call, and then I will decide whether I call you. That is the status with Luuk now. If he indicates that he would like to come back and play for the Dutch national team, then there is a possibility that he will be selected. I especially wanted clarity from him.”
De Jong said more or less the same thing as in the first conversation with Koeman about his decision. “He felt bad for me that he had quit, because I also brought him to Barcelona. But he wants some rest during the international matches. He said: ‘I’m older, I have two small children, I want some rest during the international break.’ I said I’m sorry, but I respect his decision.”
