The Barcelona midfielder is a big fan of the Liverpool centre-back.
Barcelona ace Ivan Rakitic spoke to reporters today, ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Liverpool tomorrow night, and raved about the quality of Virgil van Dijk, labelling him as one of the best centre-backs in the world, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
The 27-year-old joined the Reds from Southampton in January 2018, for a fee believed to be worth £75 million, and he has gone on to be a real hit at Anfield, making 67 appearances in all competitions in the process.
Van Dijk has helped totally transform Liverpool defensively this season, and they have the best defensive record in the Premier League, having conceded just 20 goals in 36 games this far.
Barcelona will have their work cut-out against the Reds tomorrow night, and the size of their task has not been lost on Rakitic.
The Croatian spoke to reporters today, and singled about Liverpool defender Van Dijk for praise, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo:
“We are talking about one of the best centre-backs in the world. There is a lot of respect for him. He got the prize for the best player in the PL this season. Liverpool’s defence is very well organised, they don’t leave many spaces.”
Van Dijk has been superb for Liverpool this season, but tomorrow night will be different to anything he has faced before in his career.
Lionel Messi is the world’s greatest footballer, and with 46 goals and 22 assists to his name in just 45 appearances this season, the Reds will be facing Europe’s most in-form forward.
Van Dijk is undoubtedly one of the world’s best defenders, however, and if anyone can stop the Argentine, he can.
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