‘You look at the history, the squad and plans for the future but the most important thing you look at is the manager’: Virgil van Dijk reveals Jurgen Klopp was the reason he chose Liverpool and SNUBBED Manchester City and Chelsea before making £75m switch
- Virgil van Dijk revealed Jurgen Klopp was the reason he joined Liverpool
- The Holland international was approached by Manchester City and Chelsea
- In 2018, he made the Anfield move in a world record fee for a defender of £75m
Virgil van Dijk has revealed that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was the reason he snubbed Manchester City and Chelsea before he made his long-awaited Anfield switch.
The defender has enjoyed an incredibly successful career with the Reds, winning the Premier League title, the Champions League and a Club World Cup under Klopp’s reign.
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The Holland international became the most expensive defender in the world at the time, when he joined Liverpool in January 2018 from Southampton for £75million.
Centre back Virgil van Dijk revealed Jurgen Klopp was the reason he joined Liverpool
The defender snubbed Man City and Chelsea as he joined for a world record fee of £75million
However, in a drawn out transfer saga, van Dijk was also approached by Pep Guardiola and then-Chelsea manager Antionio Conte, as he explained: ‘I had the chance to go to Chelsea and Man City.
‘When you compare the clubs, you look at the history, the town, the current squad, their plans for the near future.
‘But the most important thing you look at is the manager – and Jurgen Klopp is an important reason why I chose for Liverpool.
‘Klopp has something special. Is it his energy? Is it his overall image? I sometimes sit and think about what he does and what he has more than others.
The defender has since won the Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup
‘I think it is his man-management. These days that is more important than anything in football.
‘Klopp gives you this great feeling. He is genuinely happy when you walk into the club in the morning. It may sound daft, but that really inspires you as a player.’
Van Dijk’s move to the Reds almost didn’t happen as interest from Liverpool began the summer before his big money move.
After the summer transfer window in 2017 had passed, Van Dijk began the season with the Saints – however, much doubt loomed over his future at the club as he became an unpopular figure at St Mary’s Stadium as he agreed to join Liverpool before the January transfer window had opened.
It appeared the attraction of working under Klopp was too good for van Dijk to turn down and he had to be patient for his dream move to be finalised.
His move from Southampton almost didn’t happen but he waited patiently to join the Reds