The two reasons Rav van den Berg missed Middlesbrough vs Swansea City now explained

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Middlesbrough got their 2025/26 campaign underway on Saturday afternoon against Swansea City.

Boro have struggled on the opening weekend of previous seasons, but did secure a 1-0 win over the Welsh outfit in their first game of 2024/25.

It was Rob Edwards’ first competitive game as manager following his arrival over the summer.

As expected, Edwards has done away with Michael Carrick’s back-four system at Middlesbrough and switched to a five-man defence.

New signing Alfie Jones featured alongside Dael Fry and natural right-back Luke Ayling in the three, with Rav van den Berg absent from the matchday squad.

Why Rav van den Berg missed Middlesbrough vs Swansea City

As we have already covered, Van den Berg has received transfer interest this summer, alongside Hayden Hackney.

Hackney, who rejected Ipswich Town, was involved against Swansea, but there was no place for Rav.

Now, journalist Dominic Shaw has shed some light on why the Dutchman was absent.

While transfer interest did play a role, Shaw revealed that Van den Berg’s fitness also played a part in him missing out.

He tweeted: “Transfer-wise, no change with VDB as things stand. Absence today a combination of lack of training in recent weeks and obvious uncertainty surrounding his #Boro future.”

What Rav van den Berg has said about his future

Speaking while away on international duty in June, Van den Berg commented on his future.

He said: “I still support the decision to go to Middlesbrough. The city may not be the most beautiful in England and I don’t like fish and chips. But it has been good for my development, because I have played a lot.

“My brother Sepp took a different path by transferring to Liverpool, a big club. But he has done very well in a roundabout way, he now plays almost everything at Brentford.

“That is also important to me and decisive in a choice, I want playing time. I did tell my agent that he should only call if a club is very serious. Did he call after that? Yes. But I can’t say anything more about it.”

Feyenoord and Bundesliga side FC Cologne are among the teams that have shown interest in the Middlesbrough star.