‘Different quick’: Van Dijk says player Liverpool held talks with is one of his toughest opponents

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Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Virgil van Dijk has named Kylian Mbappe amongst the toughest players he’s ever come up against.

Van Dijk has played against some of the greatest strikers in football history, but according to the Dutchman, Mbappe is right up there with the best of them, describing the Frenchman as ‘different quick’.

In another world, Mbappe and Van Dijk could have been Liverpool teammates. After all, the PSG attacker did admit earlier this week that he held talks with the Reds about a potential move to Anfield this summer before signing a new contract with the Ligue 1 giants.

Unfortunately for Van Dijk, that means he may have to come up against the Frenchman again in the future.

What’s been said?

Van Dijk named Mbappe as one of his toughest opponents alongside Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi.

“Well, I’ve played against Sergio Aguero who was unbelievable, Messi, arguably the best player in the history of football in my opinion. Mbappe, he’s different quick,” Van Dijk said.

Impossible to stop

Mbappe is certainly in that mould of Aguero and Messi where he’s simply impossible to stop on his day.

He combines incredible technical ability with Olympian-level pace, and when he gets going, even the best defenders in the world can’t keep tabs on him.

Mbappe would have run Premier League defences ragged if he’d arrived in England, but somewhat sadly, the striker has opted to remain in France for the foreseeable future.

Liverpool were in for Mbappe at one point, and who knows? Perhaps they’ll get a deal done for the Frenchman in a few years’ time when his contract once again begins to run down.