Virgil van Dijk has paid a massive compliment to Celtic for helping to shape his experience of British football – whilst tipping Andy Robertson to one day be Liverpool captain.
The Netherlands skipper is enjoying a stellar season at Anfield, and is unquestionably one of the world’s best centre-backs at the moment, and he puts a lot of his success down to his time in Glasgow.
Van Dijk spent two years at Parkhead between 2013 and 2015 before signing for Southampton in a £13 million deal – before Liverpool came calling with a world-record £75 million bid in January of this year.
He’s been a Red for less than 12 months but he’s already helped lead the club to a Champions League final, as well as providing a bedrock for a Premier League title challenge, and speaking to the BBC, via the Daily Record, he explained: “Celtic helped me a lot in making my move to Southampton.
“It was a great time for me in my development.
“It was three years abroad, adapting to the British style of play and winning trophies for such a big club with amazing fans.”
And on his friendship with team-mate and former Dundee United left-back Robertson, he added: “If he keeps improving he will (captain Liverpool).
“He’s doing very well, he’s made incredible steps in his career and he just needs to keep doing what he’s doing.
“He’s already a leader and you don’t need an armband to be a leader for this team.”
What do you think of van Dijk’s comments?
And could his remarks lead other young players to try out life in the Scottish Premiership?
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