Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk breaks silence on retirement theory – ‘I never said that’

Virgil van Dijk has spent eight years at Liverpool and was recently quizzed about rumours of a potential retirement from international football

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has cleared up suggestions that he could be close to retiring from international football. The Reds skipper will be looking ahead to the summer, when he will lead the Netherlands in the World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Van Dijk is continuing to be a key figure for Liverpool, having guided the Reds to the Premier League title last season in his second year wearing the captain’s armband on a permanent basis.

The Dutchman’s future was the subject of intense speculation last season, with his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign.

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Van Dijk eventually went on to agree a new deal with Liverpool that will keep him at Anfield until the summer of 2027, with Mohamed Salah also signing a new contract around the same time, while Trent Alexander-Arnold left to join Real Madrid.

Last year also saw Van Dijk help the Netherlands qualify for this summer’s World Cup, with his country’s spot in the tournament confirmed after a 3-2 victory over Lithuania back in September.

It was after this game that rumours emerged that Van Dijk’s retirement from international football may not be far away, something which the Liverpool captain has now dismissed.

“I never said that,” Van Dijk said in the February issue of British Vogue. “I don’t look too far ahead,” he added.

Van Dijk was also quizzed on where he sees himself in 10 years’ time.

“There’s still years in my career so… I literally have no idea,” Van Dijk said. “As long as I’m happy and the kids are happy, it’s cool.”

Van Dijk was most recently in action for Liverpool on Thursday night as the Reds were held to a goalless draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Reds will now prepare to face Barnsley at Anfield on Monday night in the third round of the FA Cup, where it remains to be seen if Van Dijk will get any minutes in the fixture.

If the Dutchman is not involved in the match against Barnsley, the next Liverpool fixture will see the Reds face Burnley in the Premier League on January 17.

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