A return of Luuk de Jong to the Dutch national team is definitely no longer an option, national coach Ronald Koeman said on Sunday morning. ESPN in Good morning Eredivisie. The selector called the PSV striker several times, who continues to support his decision to retire as an international player.

“Koeman, has it been ticked off? Is Luuk de Jong not going to the European Championships in Germany?” asks Hans Kraay junior. “He is indeed not coming,” answers the national coach, after which Koeman elaborates on the conversations he had with De Jong. “When I became national coach of the Dutch national team for the second time, Luuk called me.”

“He had quite a problem with that, but he then indicated that he wanted to have more time for his family during the international matches, he became a year older, etc. That was the first call.”

Koeman then saw how De Jong himself left the door ajar for a return to the Dutch team. “I made a conscious choice about that, but he (Ronald Koeman, ed.) can always call me. We can always have a chat,” De Jong said in August 2023.

The national coach thinks it is logical that the media immediately delved into this. “I then called Luuk and asked: 'Are you open to a return or not?' He then indicated that he would stick to his decision to retire as an international player. I said, 'Okay, if you ever change your mind, just call me.'”

Koeman says that he has spoken to De Jong 'once or twice' since then. “But his return to the Dutch is a thing of the past. It is his decision, I respect it and then it is no longer a point of discussion for me.”

André Ooijer, also present in the talk show, then joins in: “Never say never, because if there are some injuries later…”, after which the former professional is interrupted by presenter Fresia Cousiño Arias and Kraay junior: “No, no! This is completely finished, it is ready.”

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