The former FC Groningen man was a supremely talented teenager but he just needed to be pushed as a footballer. However, from the very first moment the Groningen couches laid eyes on him, his talent was clear. He was a youngster with tremendous vision and an ability to read the game, and he had great physical attributes. He was fast, was comfortable in possession, good in the air and able to defend defensive situations well. He just needed to go through the process that all young defenders do and gain some consistency.
What normally happens in Dutch football, is that a young player is left to develop for a few seasons before top Premier League clubs are willing to take a chance. However, Celtic with what is now looking like a remarkable piece of transfer business pounced at the end of his first season and took him to Scotland.
And it was soon clear that Dutchman was a cut above anything in the SPL. He marshaled Celtic to two titles and it was now that the Premier League clubs really stood up and took notice.
He has spent just over a season at Southampton and is earning a reputation as one of the best central defenders in the entire league. He won the Southampton Player of the year award at the end of his first season pretty comfortably. He also won 163 Aerial duels in the Premier League last season – 30% more than any other player. He really is at home in this league.
Recently Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier made a strong statement: “Virgil van Dijk is one of the best central defenders in the Premier League,” he told Sky Sports at the weekend. “He’s an absolute giant for us. He just makes the game look so easy.”
Fellow former Southampton player Jamie Redknapp agrees. “I’ve liked him since his Celtic days,” said Redknapp. “He’s come to the Premier League and is making it look easy. I think Toby Alderweireld might just edge him as the best but he’s certainly not far behind.
“He’s got it all. He’s obviously very big, he’s good on the ball and he’s got pace. He’s the modern-day centre-back who can come forward with the ball. He could play for any team in the future – Barcelona, Real Madrid – he’s that good.”
This weekend just was gone and their words were highlighted further. Southampton traveled to struggling Manchester City and Van Dijk , who is rated at €42.4m by the CIES Football Observatory, turned into a Man Of The Match. This will have left Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wondering why he didn’t move for the Southampton man, especially as £40million man John Stones turned in a poor performance.
.@VirgilvDijk: MotM vs Manchester City @SouthamptonFC #MCISOU pic.twitter.com/LwdQpLGFSo
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) October 23, 2016
Former Groningen reserve team manager Dick Lukkien who spent a season nurturing Van Dijk thinks he is going to go on to produce big things.
“I’m impressed with how he’s developed, but it hasn’t surprised me because I knew what he was capable of.” Says Lukkien.
“He’s a player for one of the top six teams in Europe. He can make another step. I’m very proud of him.”
One thing’s for sure, if Van Dijk continues this form, a move to a super-club may happen sooner rather than later and Guardiola may be one of the first people knocking on at door.