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New signing Ozan Kabak explained the story behind his Liverpool shirt signed Virgil van Dijk and why he is desperate to meet his football idol.
In December 2018, while still at Galatasaray, Kabak shared a photo on Instagram of him holding a Liverpool shirt signed by Van Dijk with a personal message to him.
After successfully donning the Reds jersey himself following his loan transfer from Schalke with the option to move permanently to Anfield this summer for £ 18million, Kabak explained how his special gift from the Dutchman was born.
He told the club’s website: “So I had a friend in Galatasaray, Omer Bayram – he was a childhood friend with Virgil van Dijk from Holland.
“I was talking to him and I said something about Virgil van Dijk, he is very good and I like him.
“He said, ‘He’s my childhood friend.’ I couldn’t believe it. Then the next day he brought me his jersey and I was so happy. I put this jersey on my wall in my house. It’s history.
In a twist of fate, Van Dijk’s knee injury and the long-term dismissal that followed contributed to the circumstances which brought Kabak to Liverpool.
However, as the £ 75million defender continues his rehab with hot-weather training in Dubai, Kabak’s much-anticipated meeting with his new team-mate may have to wait a bit.
He said: “Virgil van Dijk is, I think, the best central defender in the world at the moment.
“The last three or four years he was always on his best performance. He’s strong, he’s good, he’s so fast, he’s smart.
“That’s why I see him as an idol. I want to meet him as soon as possible, to be honest.
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Kabak received extensive details on the Anfield issues from his former coach David Wagner, responsible for Schalke between July 2019 and September 2020.
Former Mainz teammate of Jurgen Klopp, the former Huddersfield Town boss is one of the Liverpool manager’s closest associates.
Kabak said: “I can’t wait to work with Jurgen Klopp. He is one of the best coaches in the world.
“I’ve heard a lot about him from my former coach David Wagner – he’s told me a lot about him. Like I said, I can’t wait to work with him, to take things from him.
“He’s said a lot about him because I think they’re best friends.
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“He said he was one of the best coaches in the world and maybe one day I could work with him. He showed me how I will come. Now I am here.
“It was like a relief (to arrive at the Liverpool training ground). I was so happy to be here and finally said, “Yeah, here I am”.
“To talk to Jurgen and the guys, they were really, really nice to me. Like I said, a dream come true.
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