Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is planning talks with new Netherlands coach Xavi to determine his international future. The 35-year-old Reds skipper wore the armband for Oranje throughout their World Cup campaign and is poised to meet up with the squad in September when Xavi begins his tenure with a visit from Germany in the UEFA Nations League.
Upcoming fixtures and contract questions
The Netherlands meet Jurgen Klopp's side on September 24 in Amsterdam before travelling to Belgrade to face Serbia three days later. Having turned 35 in July, the prospect of Van Dijk stepping away from the national scene to prolong his Anfield career has been floated.
The centre-back says a meeting with Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi will provide a clearer picture of his future. "It's a good question," Van Dijk said. "I will have that meeting with the new manager first. Let's see. It's also a little bit down to that conversation. Everyone wants to feel appreciated, loved and important. I feel like I'm still very much valuable and important for the team."
Van Dijk's workload and recovery
No player featured more than Van Dijk across Europe's top five leagues last season. He clocked up 5,841 minutes prior to the World Cup, where he featured for every minute of the Netherlands' run to the last-32 stage. As a result of that marathon year, he requested extra time off from Liverpool before beginning pre-season last month, opting to stay off the club's tour of the United States to stave off the effects of jet lag.
Asked if he feels the need to give up international football to extend his club career after 10 seasons at Liverpool, Van Dijk added: "Not at all. Some players do but not me. With anything you do, you want to feel respected, loved and appreciated for your work and the quality that you bring. Let's see if that's still the case and then we'll go from there."
