Xavi's Oranje Revolution: Memphis Depay Omitted from Squad

Xavi’s Oranje revolution has its first shockwave: Memphis Depay is out.

The new Netherlands head coach has wasted no time showing his teeth, dropping one of the country’s biggest modern stars from his first squad and making it clear that reputation no longer guarantees a place. Memphis, still hunting the all-time scoring record for the national team, has been left at home for the upcoming international window.

Right now, form and fitness trump history. The forward is still waiting for his first goal in Brazil with Corinthians, and Xavi has drawn a hard line: if you’re not sharp for your club, you won’t be central for your country. It’s a clean break from the Ronald Koeman era, and it lands with a message that will echo through the dressing room — no one is untouchable.

Big names out, big calls made

Memphis is the headline omission, but he’s not alone. Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst have also been pushed to the margins as Xavi trims back the old guard.

Injuries have done some of the work for him. Frenkie de Jong is still out with the knee problem he picked up at the World Cup, delaying a reunion between the midfielder and his former Barcelona manager. Mats Wieffer is also sidelined, while Stefan de Vrij’s move to Greece appears to have nudged him towards the exit door internationally, his Oranje career seemingly fading rather than ending with fanfare.

There is at least one major boost at the back: Jurrien Timber returns. The defender, who missed the World Cup and a long stretch of football with a serious knee injury, is back in the fold and immediately strengthens the defensive options.

Youth at the heart of the reset

If the cuts are ruthless, the injections of youth are deliberate.

Ruben van Bommel, son of former Netherlands international Mark van Bommel, has ridden a blistering start to the season with PSV Eindhoven straight into the national team. Fresh off recovery from a cruciate ligament injury, he has already posted two goals and two assists in league play. Xavi has clearly taken note of that end product and the hunger that comes with it.

Gjivai Zechiel has forced his way in from Feyenoord. Now a regular starter, the midfielder has added goals to his game, striking five times already this season. That blend of technical quality and a nose for goal fits neatly with what Xavi traditionally demands from his attacking midfielders.

This is not a gentle evolution. It’s a reset built around players who arrive in camp in rhythm, not on reputation.

Veerman’s second chance

One of the most intriguing subplots is the return of Joey Veerman.

The Borussia Dortmund playmaker had become a symbol of Koeman’s mistrust. His poor display against Austria at Euro 2024 triggered a storm of criticism and a very public debate in the Dutch media about whether he was tactically reliable at this level. Under Koeman, that seemed to close the door.

Xavi has reopened it.

A fresh start in the Bundesliga has helped reshape the narrative. Veerman’s range of passing and ability to unpick deep defenses from midfield has persuaded the new coach that the 27-year-old still belongs on this stage. In a system that leans heavily on technically gifted central midfielders to dictate play, his vision could become a key weapon rather than a liability.

Van Dijk stays on, and the spine holds

At the back, one decision stands above the rest: Virgil van Dijk is staying.

The Liverpool defender had openly hinted he might walk away from the international scene after the painful World Cup exit to Morocco. That uncertainty is over. Following private talks with Xavi in August, Van Dijk has committed to continue as captain.

He remains the anchor of a defense that also includes Premier League standouts Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke. With Timber back, Xavi suddenly has a blend of pace, power, and ball-playing defenders that can support a more proactive style.

The new coach has also shown he won’t automatically punish players for chasing moves outside Europe’s traditional power leagues. Tijjani Reijnders and Crysencio Summerville have both kept their places despite recent transfers to the Saudi Pro League, a sign that performances and physical levels will be judged on what he sees, not where they play.

Memphis out, youth in, standards raised. The message from Xavi’s first squad is brutally clear: the Oranje shirt has to be earned all over again.