PSV winger Steven Bergwijn has sung the praises of Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk after completing international duty with Holland.
The 21-year-old attacker has praised the Reds’ colossus, claiming training with the 28-year-old has helped him improve massively.
Bergwijn admitted that Van Dijk is the standout performer in the Dutch national side, calling the Liverpool man the best defender in the world.
The Dutch starlet told Goal, “Van Dijk is an absolute beast.”
“Of course, it is good to be able to measure myself against him in training with the national team.”
The £180,000 per-week ace [Spotrac] was ever-present under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield this season, playing an integral role in Liverpool winning the Champions League and coming within a whisker away from their first-ever Premier League title.
OPINION
At only 21-years-old, Bergwijn has the opportunity to play in one of the world’s most promising international sides. Van Dijk is the captain of the Holland side and has proved his worth as one of the world’s best with ease – especially in the previous year. Van Dijk has settled well into Jurgen Klopp’s style at Liverpool and it has suited his game perfectly. The Dutchman averages 79.9 passes a game at a success rate of 89.7 – the third-highest average in the Premier League. [WhoScored] The former Southampton and Celtic defender averages the most amount of clearances in the Reds’ squad by a mile, averaging 5.2 a game, with his nearest competitor in Dejan Lovren averaging 3.9. [WhoScored] Van Dijk captained Holland to the final of the UEFA Nations League, with country success the only thing holding the 28-year-old back from being named amongst the games best ever central defenders. The goal next year will be to win the Premier League, and then who knows? The Ballon d’Or could be next.
