Virgil van Dijk’s inherent talent was reportedly “depressing” to James Ward-Prowse during their Southampton days together.
When the Saints acquired Van Dijk, 32, from Celtic in the summer of 2015, they demonstrated their aptitude for acquiring elite players. Throughout his two and a half years on the south coast, the Netherlands international, who is presently representing his nation at Euro 2024, established himself as one of Europe’s most talented defenders.
Van Dijk, a physical force for Liverpool, was the envy of his teammates, who seemed to need to work much harder to get the same (or worse) outcomes. On Ben Foster’s Fozcast, Ward-Prowse, who moved from Southampton to West Ham in 2023, expressed his jealousy of Van Dijk’s innate talent.
The 29-year-old remembered his time with the Dutchman as “depressing.” “Normally, after lunch, you’d be in the gym working out with leg weights to get stronger and faster. But Virgil just seemed to have it all. ‘See ya fellas!’ he would remark as he was carrying his washbag to his car.
“While you’re working hard to better yourself, he seems to have everything. [Naturally] powerful, quick, and he attempted to take a couple of free kicks at the club. I therefore realized that I was up against some competition.”
Foster recalled remarks made by Fraser Forster, a former visitor and Van Dijk’s teammate at both Celtic and St. Mary’s. Both Ward-Prowse and the goalie were acutely aware that Van Dijk was too talented to be retained at Southampton in the long run.
“I think that physicality he’s naturally got [makes him elite], but he’s just so calm and composed,” said the player. “He never appears hurried. He’s practically giving the player the line to say, “Go on, you’re not gonna do me here,” even in one-on-one situations. That’s class, and that’s the quality and kind of arrogance he possesses.”
Ward-Prowse continued by saying that nobody at Southampton “was in any doubt” that he would do what he has, winning a long list of accolades at Anfield. Van Dijk was a member of The Reds team that won the FIFA Club World Cup, the Champions League, the FA Cup, two League Cups, and ended Liverpool’s 30-year Premier League drought.
As Van Dijk approaches the last year of his contract, there are a ton of rumors floating around about his future on Merseyside. Arne Slot is keen to hang onto one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history. And it’s clear from his former teammates’ comments how unique a talent Liverpool is desperate to hold onto.