Scott Brown and Virgil van Dyk enjoyed a fun-filled reunion after Celtic's king prankster left his former team-mate in stitches with a video message
The £75m Liverpool defender spent two seasons with the Parkhead side and the Hoops skipper teased the Dutchman on whether or not he remembered him.
And while Brown loves a laugh, he was deadly serious when praising the player named the finest in the world for Goal's 50 best in 2019 accolade.
But the 34-year-old couldn't resist a prank before dishing out the compliments.
The Celtic captain joked: "Hi Virgil, I'm Scott from Celtic, do you remember me?
"I don't think anybody really knew too much about him but then two, three months into the season the lads were this guy is a player.
"He just became the Rolls Royce of the team.
"Absolute legend.
"Virgil, congratulations on Goal World Player of the Year, big man."
And those sentiments were echoed by current Hoops boss Neil Lennon who managed van Dijk during his first season at Parkhead.
He said: "He's the best in the world.
"You've come a long way since the bounce game here at Lennoxtown against Carlisle!
"We never doubted that your progress would be as superb as it is.
"You've been a magnificent servant to your club so far and you're doing wonderful things with Liverpool.
"He could go on and play for any club now but I think he looks very happy at Liverpool.
"And why wouldn't he be? Two Champions League finals and a great Premier League run last year and another one this year."
And the player himself detailed the vital role the Hoops played in helping him become recognised as the world's best defender.
Van Dijk admitted: "Celtic, what a time!
"You look at the team before you arrive, and I think everyone knows Scott Brown anyway so before I arrived I was like 'how will he be?'
"Will he be that crazy outside the pitch as he is on it?
'At Celtic, if you draw, it's not good enough.
"The game against Ajax in the Champions League in my first year the atmosphere was outstanding. It gives you that extra lift and it was very special."
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