Former teammate tips Liverpool star to join one of Barcelona or Real Madrid this summer | OneFootball

Spanish football’s two leading clubs have this week been tipped as potential landing spots for Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk.

This comes amid mounting speculation, pointing towards what would mark a surprise departure from Anfield for the Dutchman this summer.

Van Dijk’s contract terms with Liverpool are due to expire upon the season’s close, with an agreement over an extension yet to be found.

Still widely considered to be one of world football’s very best in his role, the 33-year-old, despite his age, would in turn be expected to garner widespread interest from across the continent.

And, as alluded to above, this week, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have been named as possible destinations.

One of Van Dijk’s former teammates, in José Fonte, this week sat down for an interview with BoyleSports (as cited by the Liverpool Echo).

And the Portuguese, who spent two years lining out alongside VVD whilst at Southampton, went on to name a trio of European heavyweights as clubs he ‘wouldn’t be shocked’ to see the stopper take to the pitch for next season:

“Virgil van Dijk would thrive at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him at one of those clubs next season. Those clubs will be looking for defenders that are as reliable as Van Dijk and they will all be looking if he gets to the end of the season without signing a contract.”

Fonte continued:

“He can still perform at the highest level and he has shown he can take care of himself. He will have no problem continuing at the highest level for another three or four years.

“Even if Van Dijk loses a bit of pace, he won’t be slow. He will get even better in his positioning and his anticipation. He is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the history of football.”

Conor Laird – GSFN