As Actual Madrid put together to tackle Liverpool of their third UEFA Champions League group stage encounter, an intriguing revelation from has resurfaced, shedding mild on a chapter that would have dramatically altered the profession of Virgil van Dijk.
Based on the report, there was a second not way back when Van Dijk’s representatives reached out to Actual Madrid in an try to discover a attainable transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu.
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Regardless of the Dutchman’s world-class fame, that door “had at all times remained closed.”
What’s the story?
The story reveals that in a tense interval final season, the Liverpool captain pushed negotiations to the restrict earlier than agreeing to his contract renewal.
Van Dijk reportedly waited till the final second earlier than accepting Liverpool’s extension supply till 2027.
All through that interval, Van Dijk’s camp is claimed to have contacted intermediaries in Spain in a last effort to open talks with Actual Madrid.
Virgil van Dijk needed to play for Actual Madrid. (Picture by Jan Kruger/Getty Pictures)
The centre-back was wanting to discover the chance of enjoying for Actual Madrid, however the Los Blancos remained unmoved.
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Why did Actual Madrid reject him?
One of many main causes behind Actual Madrid’s reluctance was the intense cruciate ligament damage Van Dijk suffered in 2020.
Though the Dutch defender has since absolutely recovered, Madrid’s technical workers reportedly considered the chance as too excessive and opted to pursue different choices.
Their choice was later mirrored within the signing of Dean Huijsen, seen as a part of the membership’s subsequent defensive era.
Now 34, Van Dijk finally selected stability and loyalty, committing to Liverpool as an alternative of embarking on a late-career transfer to Spain.
Regardless of his brokers’ efforts, Actual Madrid by no means significantly thought of the switch, closing the door as soon as and for all on what may have been probably the most sudden strikes in latest reminiscence.