Xavi’s Oranje Revolution: Memphis Depay Dropped from Squad
Xavi’s Oranje revolution starts with a shock: no Memphis Depay.
The new Netherlands head coach has wasted no time in drawing a hard line, dropping one of the country’s biggest modern stars for his first squad and making it clear that reputation no longer guarantees a seat on the plane.
Memphis cut as Xavi lays down law
Memphis, chasing the all-time scoring record for the Dutch national team, has been left out of the upcoming international window. The forward is still waiting for his first goal in Brazil with Corinthians, and that drought has clearly counted against him.
Xavi has nailed his colours to the mast: match fitness and club form over past glories. This is not a gentle transition from the Ronald Koeman era; it’s a clean break. Under the new regime, no name is untouchable.
Memphis is the headline casualty, but he is not alone. Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst have also been discarded, stripping away another layer of the old guard in one sweep.
Injuries delay reunions, careers fade
On the injury front, there is frustration. Frenkie de Jong is still sidelined with the knee problem he picked up at the World Cup, postponing a much-anticipated reunion between the midfielder and his former Barcelona coach. Mats Wieffer also misses out through injury, removing another option in the engine room.
At the back, Stefan de Vrij’s international story looks to be entering its final chapter. After his move to Greece, his absence here feels less like a pause and more like a winding down of his Oranje career.
There is better news with the return of Jurrien Timber. The defender, who missed the World Cup and a long spell with a serious knee injury, is back in the fold and immediately strengthens the defensive unit.
Youth takes centre stage
If the cuts sting, the call-ups tell the other half of the story. Xavi’s first squad leans heavily into youth and momentum.
Ruben van Bommel, son of former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel, has forced his way into the picture with a blistering start to the season at PSV Eindhoven. Fresh from a cruciate ligament injury, he has already produced two goals and two assists in league play. That kind of output, under those circumstances, is impossible to ignore.
Gjivai Zechiel has taken a similar route from promise to selection. Now a regular starter at Feyenoord, the technical midfielder has added a ruthless edge in front of goal, scoring five times already this season. Xavi has clearly taken note of that predatory streak from midfield.
Veerman’s redemption arc
One of the most intriguing subplots is the return of Joey Veerman to the national setup.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder had been effectively frozen out under Koeman after a poor display against Austria at Euro 2024. That performance sparked a public debate in the Dutch media over whether he fit tactically at this level, and his stock plummeted.
A fresh start in the Bundesliga has changed the picture. Veerman’s form has convinced Xavi that the 27-year-old still has something to offer. His range of passing and ability to unlock defences from deep align neatly with a system that demands high technical quality from central midfielders. From persona non grata to potential key piece – his rehabilitation could become one of the defining themes of this new cycle.
Van Dijk commits to the new project
At the heart of it all, the captain stays.
Virgil van Dijk had hinted he might walk away from international football after the painful World Cup exit to Morocco. Those doubts have been put to bed. Following private talks with Xavi in August, the Liverpool defender confirmed he will continue to lead the side.
Van Dijk remains the anchor of a back line that now includes Premier League standouts Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke. It is a defence built on pace, aggression, and top-level experience – exactly the kind of platform a demanding coach like Xavi will want.
No blanket ban on Saudi moves
One thing Xavi has not done is impose a moral or sporting embargo on players heading to the Middle East.
Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville both keep their places despite recent transfers to the Saudi Pro League. Their inclusion underlines a pragmatic streak: if the performances hold up, the door stays open, regardless of postcode.
So the message is sharp and simple. Status will not save you. Form will. Youth will be trusted. Technical quality is non-negotiable.
Memphis Depay stands on the outside looking in. A new generation steps through the door. The only question now is how quickly Xavi’s ruthless reset can turn the Netherlands into a side feared again on the biggest stage.
