Manchester United’s Donny van de Beek has admitted that he believes Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in the world.
The Dutch midfielder was denied a late loan move to rivals Everton on deadline day, but has shown his appreciation for his international team-mate.
Despite struggling for game time at Old Trafford, Van de Beek maintained his place in the Netherlands side, before injury ruled him out of Euro 2020.
Van Dijk also missed this summer’s tournament through injury and the 24-year-old midfielder admitted the Liverpool defender was irreplaceable for the country.
“Yeah. He’s really important for our team," Van de Beek said when asked if he believed the Premier League and Champions League winner was the best in the world in his position.
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“We missed him in the Euros," the Manchester United playmaker continued.
“I’m happy for him that he’s back on the pitch. I know he worked really hard. It's not easy if you get that injury, but he looks good.”
Having not featured for United so far this season, Van de Beek was left out of the current national squad.
An Ajax academy graduate, he helped the Dutch side reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, before eventually joining the Manchester club for £40m last summer.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s FIVE YouTube channel , Van de Beek’s comments led the former United defender to make the same admission.
“When he’s fit, over the last couple of years, I think [Van Dijk’s] been the go-to guy”, Ferdinand said.
“He had the biggest impact on a team, I think, in terms of centre backs over the last probably three years.
“I think it’s just consistency and the ability to win. [Raphael] Varane is unrivalled alongside [Sergio] Ramos in terms of winning, but Van Dijk the way his form has been over the last three years, he has been immense.
“[Ruben] Dias has been great but he [only] played last season. I’m talking about consistency over a number of years and I think those guys are probably apart at the moment.”
