Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo had admitted that he is a big fan of Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk, with the 24-year-old often keeping a close eye on the Dutchman’s performances.
Speaking to the Atheltic, the Uruguay international revealed that he is a big consumer of football when off the pitch, and that Van Dijk is one player Araujo often finds himself watching to take note of the Liverpool star’s movements and style of defender.
Van Dijk is regarded by many as one of the best defenders in the world and arguably the most talented to have played for Liverpool in the Premier League era. And the 31-year-old’s influence in the last few seasons at Anfield have now stretched well beyond Merseyside.
And one player who has seemingly been impressed with Van Dijk’s performances for Liverpool is Araujo, with the Barcelona star revealing that he is constantly trying to learn the best skills from the centre-back’s displays and implementing them into his own game.
Araujo said: “There are various players I watch and I try to take the best from each of them. These days it’s Van Dijk. Manchester City’s defenders as well are playing at a good level this season. I analyse a bit from all of them: the movements they make, how they move the ball, trying to learn.”
Araujo’s Van Dijk comments should come as no real surprise
Van Dijk has been the standout defender in the Premier League ever since his move to Liverpool, and it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to hear that fellow world-class centre-backs, such as Araujo, are still studying the former Southampton star.
The Liverpool titan is showing no sign of slowing down or dropping his quality, and with the likes of Araujo continuing to watch Van Dijk, the centre-back’s title as one of the best in Europe is still firmly intact despite what some pundits and supporters might think.
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