Virgil van Dijk has revealed he could have joined Chelsea before deciding to make the move to Liverpool.
The Netherlands international became the world’s most expensive defender when he made his £75m move from Southampton to Anfield back in January 2018.
Since then, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the world’s top players, finishing second to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or, and has now won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons with the Reds.
Had things gone differently though, he could well have been pulling on the blue of Chelsea.
Van Dijk has admitted he had offers from the Blues and Manchester City before he settled on a move to Merseyside, with Jurgen Klopp proving to be the deciding factor.
"I had the chance to go to Chelsea and Man City," van Dijk said. "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."
Van Dijk added: “He gives every player a hug after the game. It might be a really small detail, yet it feels good for every player.
“And the next day, he can hammer you in front of the squad in training.
“But then you accept that too. Because you know it is not personal. That way he can demand a lot from us."
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