Last Sunday there was a scene that emphasized why Virgil van Dijk is the ultimate captain, role model and ambassador of Liverpool Football Club.
A scene to emphasize why the extension of the Dutchman's stay with a two -year deal was more important than any signature that will be made in this summer that promises to be busy on the transfer market.
First, halfway talking with reporters about his love for the club, he broke down the conversation to embrace Sean Cox, the Liverpool supporter who sustained brain injuries in an unprecedented attack outside of 2018 in 2018.
“I just have to say hello,” he said, turning to the Lord in a wheelchair, who was invited to Anfield to celebrate his birthday with family. “Oh Sean, it's a long time ago, my friend … I'm coming a good chat in a minute.”
Some may have ignored Cox or just hello – but Van Dijk's warmth, openness and kindness was exemplary and painted the image of a football player who, before something, is a person like the rest of us. And he is a charming person.
When he returned to talk to Mail Sport and others, he was inevitably bombed with questions about his contract. “First of all, all focus should go to the Hillsborough jubilee,” he replied. “That is the most important thing and then we will see (about the contract).”
Another stylish touch of a stylish gentleman who sets the standards both on and off the field.
Van Dijk is a buy-one-get-one-free footballer. Register the biggest defender in the world and get the best captain, standard carrier and professional in the Premier League. Not cheap but worth every penny.
Some, such as Steven Gerrard, were born here. Others, such as Van Dijk, were signed here.
Gerrard lived the dream of every Liverpudlian during the captain of Liverpool and was the local heartbeat of the team for two decades. Van Dijk cannot claim to do the same, but he is now an honorary scouser who is the best captain since Gerrard and one of the very best to wear the bracelet.
Nobody is really irreplaceable in football, but Van Dijk is an almighty close to that level. Look at Chelsea: Since the long -term skipper John Terry has left, a defender has ever been suitable for stringing the boots of 'JT'?
Sources near the dressing room talk about Van Dijk with a fraternal relationship with the entire team. He is there to put an arm around when they need it, as he did Darwin Nunez several times this season after bad mistakes, but is also demanding and vocal.
It never gets too high with the highlights and, just as important, never becomes too low with the lows. There is an ongoing joke among the regular reporters who follow the clubs that we speak more with Van Dijk than our families for a few weeks.
He is always there, looking for a chat, fronting when the team has lost – a collector's item this season – and calm after the victory. That biweekly conversation is a window on its mentality: never accept less than 100 percent effort, keep your focus.
Of the three big names that this summer were from the Contracts Mohamed Salah, a two-year-old deal last week, Trent Alexander-Arnold's future remains uncertain-Van Dijk was always seen as the easiest deal to leave.
The easiest but not easy.
On January 29, 2024, Van Dijk was first asked about his contract – which at that time should have run for 18 months – and said: “That is a big question. Don't know.' He added that he wanted to see the direction in which the club was on his way before he committed himself.
It soon became clear that he held the travel direction under new head coach Arne Slot and the Dutchman wanted to stay.
However, he was interested from elsewhere. Mail Sport can reveal that Chelsea was one of the clubs who explored the idea of signing him for a free transfer this summer – but the feeling that they were coming back is that he was going to sign a new deal in Liverpool.
Paris Saint-Germain was also disputed, but that was also a bit of a non-starter. Images of Van Dijk who chat with PSG sports director Luis Campos after a competition in Anfield led to widespread rumors, but they were exactly that: rumors. It was just a friendly wetter.
Slot impressed Van Dijk and the feeling was mutual, although the first six weeks of the head coach's reign saw him work without his captain. His countryman only reported to the training on 5 August because of his participation in the European Championships.
That tournament, in Germany, would also have played a role in Van Dijk's wish to stay in Liverpool. A semi-final defeat against England hit him hard and took some time to cross but the result was the motivation to stay at the highest level for a few years.
He will be 35 by the time of the World Cup Final in New Jersey next summer, but the defender born in Breda sees no reason why he cannot lead the Netherlands in that tournament.
Slot and Van Dijk had spoken on the phone several times for their first session together, but the boss wanted to give his international star space to enjoy their tournaments. However, when the captain returned to the training, Slot was surprised.
“Before I worked with Virgil, I always said that I no longer believe in the concept of a leader,” Slot said the Dutch TV earlier this season. 'But Virgil is someone who constantly ensures that the boys are there and the leader is in coaching. He gives a good example in training and in the gym. '
He is described as a more hands-on leader than Jordan Henderson or James Milner and one who maintains relationships with the entire team. His best friends in the group are Joe Gomez and Ibrahima Konate, but everyone looks up at him.
His leadership extends beyond Liverpool. Last summer he wrote a personal letter to every squadron member of the Euro-Bid of the Netherlands, each with a handwritten message of inspiration, encouragement and motivation.
For these reasons, it is just as much as his Stellaire on-Pitch values-the undisputed best defender in the competition, probably the world that Liverpool was desperate to extend his deal. Yes, he will be 34 in July, but he does not show any signs of delay.
Negotiations for his new deal were led by Richard Hughes, the sports director. The hierarchy was clearly in their desire to extend the Van Dijk deal, not long after Hughes moved from Bournemouth to Liverpool. The opening offer started last summer.
There was a lot back and forth between the club and the representatives of Van Dijk led by Neil Fewings at Roof Agency around the semantics of offers – but at the end of March a breakthrough was eventually found.
In contrast to Salah, who had been pronounced about the lack of progress in his deal, Van Dijk has remained calm. This has only been a public personality, but sources say that his uber-oriented mind was worried about only making this a memorable season, also remained private.
Van Dijk would see no reason why he cannot perform at the highest level for three or four years.
He is a strong proponent of sports science and his interest on this side of the game perhaps came from his time that worked with the Amsterdam -based physiotherapist Sjoot Sluijs during his time who was injured four years ago.
Van Dijk has his own private team to help with food, body recovery and gym work. He keeps his children involved in his recovery time at home in the swimming pool and enjoys Aquacycling, essentially a practice bike under water. Saunas and ice cream baths are regularly on the agenda.
The nutritionists at the Liverpool head office keep Van Dijk on his toes with some crazy smoothies and protein shakes, with ginger shots also a daily habit.
One of his hobbies is listening to podcasts of sporting quantities such as LeBron James, Tom Brady and Roger Federer. You will notice the trend with those three – all athletes at the top of their game until their late 1930s at least. Van Dijk wants to emulate them.
He also loves life in the northwest and it was never a serious consideration for him to leave. His children are settled here, he recently enjoyed looking at his daughter in a fantastic MR Fox Theater production.
Even if Van Dijk was over, his leadership on the training pitch – some describe him as 'an extension of slot machine' – worth keeping him around.
With this deal, Liverpool not only signed the best defender in the world … but also the best captain.
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