Virgil van Dijk speaks out on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool, the angry reaction of fans at Anfield and why he believes it will be a “big summer” of recruitment for the champions
Virgil van Dijk says Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool should not be compared to his or Mohamed Salah’s contract extensions and admits the entire squad are devastated to lose their team-mate this summer.
Alexander-Arnold’s public confirmation of his intentions to let his terms expire before moving at the end of June saw him roundly booed on his first appearance at Anfield since the news broke last Monday, with the vice captain singled out for vociferous jeering after his came on as a substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The hostile reception grew louder when the right-back got his first touches of the ball but Reds captain Van Dijk refused to condemn those who aired their frustrations and while the 33-year-old says everyone is entitled to their own opinion, he conceded the team are disappointed to lose Alexander-Arnold as a free agent.
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And Van Dijk, who along with Salah, signed a two-year contract extension last month, says their respective situations should be likened to Alexander-Arnold’s, who is now expected to join Real Madrid.
“Everyone has different opinions or different phases of their career so you can’t compare our situation – me and Mo in this case – with Trent,” Van Dijk said. “I was very happy to eventually come to an agreement with the club.
“Obviously it’s not really a Liverpool thing to go about it the way we did with me and Mo but, like I said when it was announced, I’m happy and proud to extend because for me there is no other place to be at this point.
“Everyone shares different opinions and he feels like he has done it all – and he did it – and he wants to try something different. You are speaking about one of the biggest clubs of all in Real Madrid, who he might go to, as I read in the media. The decision is made.
“We are all gutted, players as well, as he is a fantastic player and made so many decisive moments over the years and has been a great player in the squad.
“When the final whistle is there we will miss him after that but we still have two more games, the trophy lift and a parade so there are plenty of moments we can share together and then we will see what happens.
“I think the manager said it right in the press conference that you can’t decide how anyone feels about the decision he made for him and his family. The reaction happened. He has to deal with it.
“We as a team have to deal with that as well, by the way. But I think maybe he expected this. We have two more games and then we part ways and he will go somewhere else.
“It’s not easy, not at all. We’re here for him anyway but I think the manager said it pretty well. You can’t decide how anyone’s feelings are based on this decision. He made his decision and he had peace with it. We all have to deal with it.
“We are gutted that he’s not here with us next year because he’s a fantastic player in my opinion, with outstanding, exceptional qualities that we have all been seeing over the last seven years I’ve been here.
“We’re definitely going to miss him when he’s gone but we’ve still got two games to go. Don’t ask me [about keeping him out the firing line], I’m not the one who’s picking the team!
“We want to win two more games and after the final whistle, including him, lift the trophy up and celebrate like we have never done before. I don’t think [Alexander’s Arnold’s exit] will [overshadow celebrations]. It shouldn’t. There’s a lot more players that also deserve an amazing day. I don’t think it will. It is what it is.
“I wasn’t really expecting anything [when Trent came on]. I was just trying to focus on the game, win the game and show a reaction especially from last weekend. I wasn’t really expecting something, to be honest.
“But it is what it is. He has to deal with it, we have to deal with it and unfortunately we couldn’t get the win. Now we focus on the next game.
“It’s football. We all know how it works, how the players have to make decisions at times and do what they think is best for themselves and their families that they have. He made the decision for himself and he’s at peace with it.
“We have to deal with it. The club has to deal with it and I think in the past the club dealt with it in very good ways as well.
“Like I said, we have two more games that he will have to play a part in as well. I’m sure will because he’s a fantastic player and then we’ll say goodbye to him.”
Asked if he tried to convince his understudy to stay at the club, the Reds skipper said: “What do you think I was doing? I was sorting my own stuff out, I had to secure my future as well and I was quite busy doing that. As club captain I was trying to secure my future.
“There was a lot of noise saying I had decided months ago but that wasn’t the case. I think a month ago we came to an agreement before I signed so my focus was on playing the best football I can because that’s the least I can do and I want to do because I represent the club, I’m the captain, but also to secure my future.
“I’m not the youngest any more and I have a family to provide for and I don’t want to be left in the dark. There were loads of other options but Liverpool is the place for me.”
Van Dijk also doubled down on his belief that Liverpool are heading towards “a big summer” in the transfer market as the new Premier League champions head into an intriguing period of player trading from next month.
“I think it has to be a big summer and I trust the club and the people who make the decisions to do the right thing,” Van Dijk said. “As champions it is a very difficult task to remain champions but I feel with additions we can make that step up.
“We can have a proper pre-season, we can work on the things the manager wants us to do in ball possession and without ball possession, a lot of hard work will be done. It’s something to look forward to, it’s very exciting and it’s an exciting time to be associated with Liverpool.
“Let’s see what happens but I fully trust the decision-makers to do the right things and let’s see what those right things are [laughing].”
