Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk is contemplating his future with both Liverpool and the national team after the Netherlands’ semifinal exit from the European Championship, Soccernet.football reports.
Van Dijk, who has been with the Netherlands team for nine years and earned 75 caps, says he will spend the next few weeks deciding his next steps. The 33-year-old defender has one season remaining on his contract with Liverpool.
“I haven’t the slightest idea right now. I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player. Then we’ll go for it again, but first recover from this,” Van Dijk told reporters after England beat the Netherlands 2-1, advancing to Sunday’s final against Spain.
Reflecting on the game, Van Dijk said, “After a season like this, where all kinds of things have happened, it gets emotional at the end because you know it’s over.
“Especially in the second half, I had the feeling the outcome would fall our way. But [Ollie] Watkins was perhaps given a little too much space and he finished well.”
He expressed his disappointment about the late goal that ended their run, saying, “It hurts a lot that we conceded this goal so late in the match and are now empty-handed. You put everything into it, everyone gives everything and if the goal comes like that in the last minute, that just sucks. Yes … sorry.”
Van Dijk remains a crucial player for Liverpool, where new manager Arne Slot will rely on him to lead the team following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Van Dijk, known for his strength, leadership, speed, and aerial ability, joined Liverpool in January 2018 for £75 million, a record fee for a defender at the time.
He played a key role in Liverpool’s back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter.
In his first full season, he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season. He has also won the FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and helped Liverpool end their 30-year league title drought by winning the Premier League in the 2019-20 season.
Van Dijk is the only defender to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award and has been selected in the FIFPRO Men’s World 11 three times.