Manchester City star given 2026 FIFA World Cup ultimatum by National Team manager | OneFootball

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has explained why Nathan Ake’s international opportunities are in danger as he barely plays for Manchester City.

Ake struggled for fitness last season as Manchester City endured their most difficult season under Pep Guardiola, underpinned by a third-place Premier League finish with 71 points, a Round of 16 exit from the UEFA Champions League and defeat in the FA Cup final at the hands of Crystal Palace.

Pep Guardiola’s defensive department fell prey to an injury crisis in the fall of 2024 that forced the board’s hand to sanction the January additions of Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis – with Kyle Walker also seeking exile in Italy midway through his second season as Manchester City captain.

In addition to Ake – John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias all served time on the sidelines at various stages of the 2024-25 season – sending a clear and timely message to the board that reinforcements were desperately needed come the January window.

The second half of the recent season saw Manchester City put together an encouraging run together and secure a third-place Premier League finish to guarantee UEFA Champions League football for the 2025-26 season.

However, centre-half was a key area of concerns held over the Manchester City first-team squad behind the scenes in the summer transfer window, with John Stones notably into the final year of his contract after another season marred by recurring fitness setbacks.

Akanji went on to join Inter Milan on a season-long loan in the final week of the transfer window, with Ake also linked with a departure from the Etihad Stadium. The 30-year-old joined Manchester City from Bournemouth in 2020 and has won four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League under Guardiola.

While he has never consistently been a guaranteed starter at City, Ake’s utility to the Blues has been underlined by his versatility and his performances on the left side of a back-three that formed the fulcrum of City’s historic, treble-winning squad in the 2022-23 season.

Ake has been called up to the Netherlands National Team squad for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers but Dutch manager Ronald Koeman has sent a clear message to the Manchester City defender over his international prospects.

“We’ve talked about it. Something has to change,” said Koeman when explaining Ake’s inclusion in his latest squad despite the 30-year-old’s lack of minutes at the Etihad Stadium.

“You can’t hardly play and still be part of a national team. Match practice is part of that,” Koeman added, as quoted by De Telegraaf and relayed by Sport Witness.

Centre-back is arguably the most competitive position at Manchester City – so much so that the Blues had to send Reis on loan to Girona for the 2025-26 season – and Ake will need to maintain his fitness as the campaign progresses and justify Guardiola’s faith when he is given the nod – to convince Koeman to retain his trust in the four-time Premier League winner.