Breaking: Liverpool ace “pushed until the final moments” in an effort to seal a summer move to Real Madrid.
In a surprising twist, a report from Diario AS claims that Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk made a serious effort to secure a move to Real Madrid last summer before eventually renewing his deal at Anfield.
The revelation has emerged on the very day Liverpool and Real Madrid face off in the Champions League, adding another layer of drama to the clash.
According to the Spanish outlet, Van Dijk and his camp “pushed until the final moment” to make the switch to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Van Dijk’s camp made contact with Madrid
It’s reported that the defender’s representatives contacted intermediaries in Spain in an attempt to open talks with Real Madrid’s board, hoping to assess whether a transfer was possible.
However, the response from Madrid was said to be lukewarm, as the club preferred to prioritise younger defensive options.
At the time, Van Dijk had not agreed to a new Liverpool deal, which only fuelled rumours that he was considering a move abroad after years of success in the Premier League.
Instead, Real Madrid opted to focus on youth, signing Dean Huijsen and sticking with their existing centre-back options in Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, and David Alaba.
Liverpool captain signs new contract
Van Dijk eventually committed his future to Liverpool, penning a fresh contract in the summer and reinforcing his leadership role at the club.
The Dutchman has continued to be a key figure on and off the field for the Reds.
With Madrid now back at Anfield for a crucial Champions League showdown, the timing of the report has sparked fresh debate about how close Van Dijk really came to wearing white.
In the end, both clubs appear content with how things played out — Madrid with their long-term project, and Liverpool with their captain still at the heart of it.
