Xavi’s Oranje: Memphis Depay Omitted as New Era Begins
The Xavi era with the Netherlands has begun with a jolt. No warm handshakes with the past, no gentle transition. Memphis Depay, chasing the all-time scoring record for his country, has been dropped from the first squad of the new national coach.
For years, Memphis has been the face of the Dutch attack. Now he is on the outside looking in. His struggle for form at Corinthians, where he is still waiting for his first goal in Brazil, has counted heavily against him. Xavi has nailed his colours to the mast: current sharpness and club rhythm trump reputation and history.
Veterans pushed aside, injuries bite
Memphis is the headline omission, but he is not alone. Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst have also been left out as Xavi trims back the old guard.
Injuries have shaped the list as well. Frenkie de Jong remains unavailable with the knee problem he picked up at the World Cup. Any immediate reunion between the midfielder and his former Barcelona coach will have to wait. Mats Wieffer is also sidelined, while Stefan de Vrij’s international story looks close to its final chapter after his move to Greece.
There is at least one major boost. Jurrien Timber returns after a long lay-off with a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. His comeback adds energy and composure to a defensive unit that Xavi clearly wants to refresh without losing authority.
Youth at the heart of Xavi’s first squad
The new coach has turned deliberately towards youth. The most eye-catching name is Ruben van Bommel. The PSV Eindhoven winger, son of former Oranje midfielder Mark van Bommel, has forced his way into the picture with a blistering start to the season. Fresh from a cruciate ligament injury, he already has two goals and two assists in league play. That kind of output, so soon after a major setback, has not gone unnoticed.
Gjivai Zechiel is another new face riding a surge of form. The Feyenoord midfielder has become a regular starter and added goals to his game, scoring five times already this season. Technical on the ball and ruthless in the box, he fits the profile Xavi wants between the lines: sharp, brave, and productive.
This is not a token nod to the future. It is a recalibration of who gets picked and why.
Veerman’s redemption arc
One of the most intriguing subplots in this first squad revolves around Joey Veerman. Under Koeman, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder slipped into exile after a poor display against Austria at Euro 2024. That performance sparked a fierce debate in the Dutch media about his tactical suitability and defensive reliability. His name became shorthand for a certain kind of risk.
Xavi sees something different. A strong start in the Bundesliga has reopened the door for the 27-year-old playmaker. His range of passing and ability to break lines from deep could become a key weapon in a system that demands high technical quality from central midfielders. If Xavi wants his team to dominate the ball and cut opponents open from the back, Veerman is the kind of player who can do it.
From persona non grata to potential lynchpin: his second chance is one of the boldest calls of this new reign.
Van Dijk commits to the new cycle
At the back, the most important decision has already been made behind closed doors. Virgil van Dijk, who had hinted he might walk away from international football after the World Cup exit to Morocco, has committed to continue.
Private talks with Xavi in August proved decisive. The Liverpool defender will keep the armband and remain the leader of this new-look Oranje. His presence anchors a back line that also includes Premier League standouts Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke, giving the team pace, aggression, and experience in equal measure.
Xavi has also made his stance clear on another sensitive topic: players heading to the Middle East. Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville, both now in the Saudi Pro League, have kept their places. Form and fit, not destination, are the deciding factors.
So the message is unmistakable. Big names can be dropped. Young talent will be trusted. Veterans must prove they still belong. Xavi has drawn his line — now the question is how quickly this new Oranje can live up to the ruthlessness of its selection.
