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When Liverpool took out the checkbook, before the arrival of Jürgen Klopp, it was often fashionable to make fun. Christian Benteke (46.5m), Andy Carroll (41m), Lazar Markovic (25m), Stewart Downing (23m) and even Adam Lallana (31m) are telling examples of the tendency of the Reds to overpay some players, especially coming from other clubs of the Kingdom. Then, when Virgil van Dijk became the most expensive defender in history against nearly 78.8 million euros last December, some have laughed at the price still impressive of the transaction. Less than a year later, we can not hear them anymore.
Kylian Mbappé, Gabriel Jesus, Cristiano Ronaldo and Thomas Müller are all recent victims of the Dutch monster. But finally, it was Troy Deeney, a modest striker from Watford, who best summed up the sentiment that surrounds Van Dijk in recent weeks at the BBC microphone last September: "I hate it. I hate to confront him. He is too tall, too fast, too good ball to the foot, he likes the fight, he has a beautiful hair … And in addition, it feels good!".
However, it is not its smell that should be put first to define the best Dutch. It's primarily his golgoth physique. Car van Dijk is a monster of athletic power: 1.93 meters for 92 kilos. Crazy dry relaxation and a taste for fighting. It also has one of the best rates of aerial duels won with Sergio Ramos. This is the first dimension of the game of the former Groningen. In the Premier League, of course, it helps. But this is not enough.
Continuous progression
Everything really started in Eredivisie for him. In Groningen, he is not seen as a crack immediately as his former partner Kees Kwakman recently explained to Goal: "Could anyone think that he would become the most expensive defender in the world? If I said yes, I would lie. He went step by step. First, we thought, 'OK, he's a talented player'. But after a few weeks, he won his place in the titular holder and after six months, we thought: 'he has nothing to do here with us in Groningen'".
Virgil Van DijkGetty Images
Celtic Glasgow and then Southampton follow. It is there that van Dijk catches all eyes. The reason is simple: its weak points seem nonexistent. And lies in a paradox: how can a player as robust and tall be as comfortable ball-foot? At the time, it was Rio Ferdinand who complied with the praise. "He has been repeating for several weeks that he is the best defender in the Premier League. I actually think it's one of the best players especially". All is said.
Van Dijk is much more than a defender, he is an extraordinary player. So much so that some people would not have any objection to make it play higher, in the middle … even in point. A phenomenon that hatched late but that already had all the features when he arrived in the English league in 2015. "He was already exceptional in Southampton"recalls Alex Chick, journalist at Eurosport UK."But what is fascinating is the speed with which he adapted to Liverpool".
Klopp – van Dijk, the perfect wedding
It's simple, Van Dijk has secured a domain clearly deficient for several years. Even Dejan Lovren seems transfigured by his side. An obvious charisma that metamorphoses his. And especially allows him to respond present in the hot moments. Alex Chick confirms: "The bigger the matches, the higher the level of play. The pressure seems to be the booster".
The football demanded by Jürgen Klopp marries perfectly with his qualities. First launching pad and last obstacle for the opponents, the Batavian Colossus is the keystone of Liverpool. Much more than offensive artists. "In Southampton, he often had a tendency to do too much, to go up the ball over fifty meters to create offsets, advance the English journalist. Now that he has better players around him, he does not do that anymore, thanks to Klopp".
Video – Klopp: "Really happy with van Dijk" "
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Become base of the defensive sector, VVD has seen the Reds improve very clearly since his arrival in the field. First in the cages, with the arrival of Alisson, much more rebaduring than some before him, despite some recent limitations. Above all, the input and development of startups like Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson offer him more viable solutions to recovery. To see him with a ball makes it possible to grasp at best the incredible paradox between his mammoth physique and his esthetic delicacy.
The best current?
Van Dijk, so that's all at once. A colossus able to terrorize any surface attacker at the duel. A master tactician who reads the trajectories and movements before others and only considers the tackle in an emergency. A rocket able to fight against the speed of Mbappé. A raiser of the caliber of Leonardo Bonucci, Thiago Silva or Mats Hummels. If in addition he starts to put ultra-decisive goals in the manner of Sergio Ramos as against Germany in the League of Nations …
So, is he the best defender in the world right now? The question, still undecided, arises and it is already a notable progress. "In the world, it's part of the discussion. In the Premier League, on the other hand, the discussion no longer exists: he is the bestAlex Chick says: In the Kingdom, no one can boast of collecting as many qualities as he does.
Sergio Ramos, Thiago Silva, Mats Hummels, Diego Godin, the Chiellini-Bonucci duo at Juve and, more recently, Kalidou Koulibaly. These are the names that circulated in recent years when defining the best central defender in the world. Now you have to add one. Virgil van Dijk is a part of this caste.
- Who is the best central defender in the world according to you? Vote HERE!
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