Van Dijk opens up on his retirement plans

Virgil van Dijk has opened up about his retirement plans and ruled out one particular move before he hangs up his boots.

The 33-year-old signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool in April, committing his future to the Reds until the end of the 2026/27 season.

That means that the centre-back will be just shy of his 36th birthday when his current deal expires.

And as he reported for international duty with the Netherlands, Van Dijk was questioned about how he plans to end his career.

The Liverpool captain started his senior career with FC Groningen, having spent his youth career in the Willem II academy.

He will play at Groningen’s Euroborg stadium for only the second time since leaving the club when the Netherlands host Malta in their latest World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.

Ahead of the game, Van Dijk was asked whether he would ever consider a return Eredivisie. But he quickly dismissed such a notion, insisting that he has no desire to finish his career back in his homeland.

‘No, unfortunately not,’ he said at a press conference. ‘I am very clear about that.

‘I will not return to the Netherlands. I started here and that was very important to me.

‘I am very clear that I do not want to return to the Eredivisie.

‘I am quite proud of my career so far and I think that finishing in the Eredivisie is not an option.’