Virgil van Dijk once told an opposition’s striker, ‘I would not even bother, I am just too good’ during his time at Celtic.
Former St Johnstone striker Graham Cummins played against the Dutchman in the Premiership and spoke the experience with The Irish Examiner.
“He left the day after we played against them. That is my claim to fame, that is what pushed the Southampton deal over the line, he marked me,” Cummins joked.
“We had been told at the dressing room, stop him, rather than him stopping you.
“The very first ball, I tried to creep with him and that he simply brushed me from it. I was out of breath and blowing out of backside and he turned to me and said’I wouldn’t even bother, I am just too good.”
The 28-year-old impressed during his time in Scotland before making a move to Southampton in 2015.
He spent three years in Southampton, where he attracted attention from the biggest of clubs. Eventually, Liverpool signed him for a huge transfer fee of £75 million in December 2017 and then he has not looked back.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon afterward shown what he advised the protector after he transferred to Celtic Park out of FC Groningen in 2012 and it reveals he had been destined for the top.
“After a day I pulled him in after training and said ‘look, you are not going to be here. Enjoy yourself.'”
“He was simply that good. I could not believe my luck that we got him from Groningen for $2 million. Pace, fantastic physicality, technique and superb in the air in both boxes”
A lot of Premier League defenders could have been better of listening to Van Dijk’s guidance as they have clearly not been good enough to keep up with the Dutchman.
