Burnley defender Connor Roberts has hit out at club teammate Wout Weghorst following his late winner for the Netherlands against Wales in the UEFA Nations League on Wednesday night.
Wales fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Dutch at the Cardiff City Stadium in a Nations League tie which had a dramatic ending to it.
Robert Page’s side thought they had snatched a late point when Rhys Norrington-Davies scored a stoppage time equaliser in the dying moments of the tie to cancel out Teun Koopmeiners’ opening goal.
Weghorst and his country however had the last laugh when the Burnley January signing’s diving header from a cross from Tyrell Malacia went in and secured three points for Louis van Gaal’s side.
Shortly after the winning goal, Roberts, playing for Wales, confronted Dutch striker and club teammate Weghorst, who were both part of the Clarets’ squad who suffered relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the 2021/22 season.
In a clip that has gone viral, Roberts bumped into Weghorst as he walked past and appeared to say: “Why didn’t you do that for Burnley?” Weghorst shrugged off Roberts’ frustration, seemingly replying “This isn’t about Burnley, shut up.”
Burnley only signed Weghorst in January from Wolfsburg for £12million following a stunning record in Germany that saw him score 59 times in 118 appearances in the Bundesliga. However, the Dutch international failed to match those numbers in his first half campaign in England, scoring just twice in 20 games for the Clarets and failing to steer them away from relegation.
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Following Burnley’s end to their six-year stay in England’s top-flight, it is likely that a number of the club’s stars could depart this summer. James Tarkowski is closing on a free transfer to Everton, while Nick Pope and Maxwel Cornet have also been linked with a summer departure from Turf Moor.
Speaking on his future, Weghorst has made it clear that he will not be playing for the Clarets in the Championship next season but it does not necessarily mean he wants a permanent departure for Lancashire this year.
“We have clearly agreed in advance that I will not play in the Championship,” Weghorst told Voetbal International, as published by the Daily Star.
"The club would like to keep me and will do everything they can to return to the Premier League as soon as possible. For next season it is important that I can perform at a high level, also with a view to the World Cup in Qatar.”
Burnley remain on the hunt for a new manager ahead of their return to the Championship, with Sean Dyche being sacked in April and Mike Jackson taking the final games of the 2021/22 campaign as the caretaker manager.
Former Manchester City and Belgium legend Vincent Kompany had been heavily linked with taking the reins in Lancashire, but no move has officially been announced and the Clarets may miss out on acquiring the former Anderlecht boss.
Reports now suggest that Ligue 1 side OGC Nice have held talks with bringing Kompany to the club, with their boss Christophe Galtier reportedly set to replace Mauricio Pochettino as the manager of Paris Saint-Germain.
