Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk sees no point to be somewhere else, but admitted that his situation was different from that of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah were all in the last year of their contracts that entered this season, although Alexander-Arnold is the only one who has not signed renewal.
The right back announced last week that he would leave Liverpool when his deal expires, with widespread reports that link him to Real Madrid.
“For me there is no other place to be at the moment,” said Van Dijk, as quoted by the Daily Mail. “Everyone shares different opinions, and he [Alexander-Arnold] It feels like he did it all – and he did it – and he wants to try something else.
“You talk about one of the biggest clubs of all in Real Madrid, to whom he could go, as I read in the media! The decision is made. We are all stripped, also players, because he is a fantastic player.
“When the last whistle is there, we will miss it afterwards, but we still have two games, the trophy lift and a parade, so there are plenty of moments that we can share together, and then we will see what happens.”
Alexander-Arnold has been his entire professional career in Liverpool, after he has worked up by the Academy to make his senior debut in October 2016.
Within that period, the English International has made 258 league matches for the club and she has become their second -long serving player behind Joe Gomez.
He also provided 64 assists in the Premier League during that period, more than any other defender in the history of the competition.
Despite that, he was booed by some of the fans in Anfield when he came from the bank in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, which was his first performance since he announced his approaching departure.
87 – There were only 87 seconds between Cody Gakpo who placed Liverpool up with 1-0 and Luis DÃaz doubled their lead against Arsenal. Blink. pic.twitter.com/7fwimxcr1y
– Optajoe (@Optajoe “> @Optajoe) 11 May 2025
“The manager said in the press conference that you cannot decide how someone thinks about the decision he made for him and his family,” Van Dijk continued.
“The reaction has happened. He has to do with it. We as a team also have to deal with that. But I think he might have expected this. We still have two games, and then we separate, and he will go somewhere else.
“It's not easy, not at all. We're there for him, but I think the manager said reasonably well. You can't decide how someone's feelings are based on this decision. He made his decision and he had peace with it.
“It's football. We all know how it works, how the players sometimes have to make decisions and do what they think is best for themselves and their families they have. He has made the decision for himself, and he has peacefully with it.
“We have to deal with it. The club has to deal with it, and I think that the club dealt with it in very good ways in the past. As I said, we have two more games in which he will also have to play a role in. I am sure he will do that because he is a fantastic player, and then we will say goodbye to him.”
With Alexander-Arnold who left the club and Liverpool had only made one outfield signature since Arne Slot was a member-Federico Chiesa-recognized the Dutchman also that it was crucial for Liverpool to get the off-season good.
“It must be a big summer, and I trust that the club and the people who make the decisions to do the right thing. As champions it is a very difficult task to stay champions, but I feel with additions that we can perform that step,” he said.
“We can have a good pre-season, we can work on the things that the manager wants us to do in possession and, without possession, a lot of hard work will be done. It is something to look forward to, it is very exciting, and it is an exciting time to be associated with Liverpool.
“Let's see what is happening, but I fully trust the decision makers to do the right things and let's see what those right things are.”