Virgil van Dijk has revealed how Jurgen Klopp convinced him to snub two Premier League clubs in favour of joining Liverpool.
The Reds centre-back was signed from Southampton in January 2018 in a big-money move which was then a world record fee for a defender.
He has since gone on to become arguably the best defender in world football, helping the Reds win the Champions League and also played a vital role in this season’s Premier League triumph.
At the time of Van Dijk’s arrival, a number of other clubs were interested in his services, and now the Dutchman has shed light on what happened.
Van Dijk says he had offers to join Manchester City and Chelsea, but felt the history and quality at Liverpool, as well as the manager, were decisive factors in moving to Anfield.
“I had the chance to go to Chelsea and Man City,” Van Dijk told The Mirror.
“When you compare the clubs, you look at the history, the town, the current squad, their plans for the near future.
“But the most important thing you look at is the manager – and Jurgen Klopp is an important reason why I chose for Liverpool.
“Klopp has something special. Is it his energy? Is it his overall image?
“I sometimes sit and think about what he does and what he has more than others.
“I think it is his man-management. These days that is more important than anything in football.
“Klopp gives you this great feeling. He is genuinely happy when you walk into the club in the morning.
“It may sound daft, but that really inspires you as a player.”
