Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk believes that Porto centre-back Eder Militao is a “good player” based on the fact that Real Madrid have already agreed a deal to sign the Brazilian in the summer.
Van Dijk and his Reds team-mates will face up against Militao’s Porto on Tuesday night in the quarter-finals on the Champions League.
The Brazil international was linked with a move to Anfield in January, with UOL reporting that Liverpool had “real interest” in signing him.
However Real Madrid have already moved to sign Militao in the summer for a reported fee of £43.1million [Guardian], and that’s what makes him a decent player, according to van Dijk.
“I don’t know too much about him but he’s making the transfer to Real Madrid so he must be a good player,” said the Reds centre-back, as quoted by BBC Merseyside Sport’s official Twitter account on Monday afteroon.
VVD on Eder Militao – I don't know too much about him but he's making the transfer to Real Madrid so he must be a good player! #LFC
— BBC Sport Merseyside (@bbcmerseysport) April 8, 2019
OPINION
It is a shame that Liverpool have failed to sign Militao because even though van Dijk has not seen much of him, he really is a top-class centre-back. The 21-year-old has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Porto this season, scoring four goals in the process. He is naturally a central defender but Porto have also used him at right-back this term. Militao has been very impressive in the Champions League, as well as in Portugal where Porto have been on fire. He has helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the competition, with them conceding just seven goals in the seven games he has played. Liverpool might find it tough to break down Porto’s defence on Tuesday night if he is on top of his game. It would not be a shock if Militao walks straight into the Real Madrid defence next season once he officially touches down in the Spanish capital.
