Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been crucial in helping the Reds’ new signings settle in this summer.
Van Dijk was named Reds captain earlier this week, after Jordan Henderson left the position vacant. Given his standing at the club and in the wider game, the 32-year-old commands instant respect.
And according to The Daily Mail, Virgil has already been making his presence as captain felt.
They claim that the Dutchman has been one of the key reasons behind Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai settling in so quickly.
The new pair have reportedly bedded into the squad ‘nicely,’ and it’s claimed that they have Van Dijk to thank for a big part of that.
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Virgil helps new signings to settle
One of the main worries about Liverpool going into the season is the experience they’ve lost this summer. It’s borderline unbelievable that they’ve moved on their captain and vice-captain of the previous eight years.
In Roberto Firmino they lost another player who’d been at the club for close to a decade. Meanwhile Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho had 16 years of service between them.
As a result, the squad has a completely new and fresh feel to it. We may still be one or two light, but hopefully that gets remedied over the final weeks of the transfer window.
But although there is a new look to Liverpool, they do still have some real experience within the squad.
As one of football’s most recognisable figures, Van Dijk is absolutely central to this. The Netherlands international’s ‘aura’ is often something that’s joked about and ridiculed online.
The truth is that Virgil does have that about him, though. For younger players like Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and hopefully Romeo Lavia coming into the squad, the centre-back is someone to really look up to.
As good as Henderson was as a leader, he was never one of football’s real icons. Yes, he’d won everything there was to win at Liverpool. But in terms of star-power and influence, Van Dijk is on another level. Keep up the good work, skip!