Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen will play in Euro 2024 after receiving an emergency call-up through the Netherlands national team.
Maatsen was included in Ronald Koeman’s 30-man starting squad but failed to qualify for the final 26 when the groups were shown last week.
Although he largely inspired a six-month loan spell at Borussia Dortmund, where he helped the Bundesliga side triumph in the Champions League final, his omission was not a huge surprise given that his senior selection has yet to be decided.
But it turns out that he will return to Germany this summer, and Koeman called up the left-back at the last minute after an injury crisis.
Teams can make adjustments to their squad until the start of the tournament in the event of injury and with UEFA’s approval.
On Monday evening it was announced that key player Frenkie De Jong would miss the European Championship due to an ankle injury.
Then, on Tuesday, fellow midfielder Teun Koopmeiners also retired after injuring his groin in the warm-up for Monday’s friendly against Iceland.
Shortly after, the Netherlands issued the following statement: “Ian Maatsen will register today for the Oranje educational camp in Wolfsburg. See you soon, Ian! »
Maatsen, who is on vacation in Greece, posted on Instagram: “I’m hungry to hunt with the lions. “
Given their form at Dortmund, many of the 22-year-olds deserve not to have been excluded from the team, and his Dortmund teammate Jadon Sancho responded on Instagram with: “Deserved one. “
The Netherlands are divided in Group D and will begin their European Championship against Poland on Sunday in June, before facing France and Austria.
Maatsen is not expected to stay at Stamford Bridge beyond this summer, with Chelsea cashing in and raising funds, and clever functionality in Germany may boost the defender’s value.
Dortmund need to sign him permanently and will soon make an initial offer, which is expected to be well below the value requested through Les Bleus.
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