Al-Ittihad Saudi Club decided to temporarily freeze negotiations to renew the contract of Dutch player Steven Bergwijn, despite the distinguished levels he is performing with the team, preferring to wait until the vision becomes clear regarding several essential files related to the current season and the future work plan.
This decision comes at a time when Al-Ameed occupies second place in the Roshen League standings with 17 points, just one point behind the leader of the standings, Al-Hilal Club, where the team collected its points from 5 wins, two draws and no defeat, scoring 12 goals while conceding 6 goals.
According to club sources, the decision to freeze Bergwijn’s file was based on four main reasons:
- Focus on the lead race: The Federal Administration places Al Hilal’s competition for the title as a top priority at the current stage, and believes that preoccupation with long-term files such as renewing contracts may distract the team’s mind from the upcoming decisive matches.
- Continuous technical evaluation: The management prefers to monitor the player’s physical and technical performance until the end of the season, to verify the continuity of his level and his ability to provide the desired addition before making the decision to sign him to a long-term contract.
- Waiting until the plan for next season becomes clear: Bergwijn’s fate is directly related to the technical vision and needs that the technical staff will adopt for the upcoming summer transfer period, as well as determining the features of the list of foreign players and the positions that require reinforcements.
- Review budget and salary structure: The club’s management is conducting a comprehensive review of the budget and salary cap before entering into new financial commitments, given that renewing the player’s contract may affect the wage scale and the club’s strategic ability to conclude anticipated summer deals.
