‘I’m Frustrated By The Club’s Position’ – Virgil Van Dijk Publishes Lengthy Statement Confirming Desire To Leave Southampton And Try Hand Elsewhere

Chris Wright

7th, August 2017

4 Comments

Virgil van Dijk has released a statement in which he strongly criticises Southampton for refusing to sell him this summer.

The Dutch centre-half has been touted by the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City over the close season, with even the Saints’ £50million valuation refusing to deter the 26-year-old’s array of besmitten suitors.

However, things are now beginning to get serious as the transfer deadline approaches, with Van Dijk becoming increasingly anxious that he may not get the career move he’s after before the opportunity passes for another six months.

As such, he’s lodged a good old-fashioned transfer request, doing so with a long and impressively eloquent statement about just how fed up with the purgatory he’s currently in at St. Mary’s.

Here’s Van Dijk’s essay in full:

Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of [Southampton]’s intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to 2 weeks wages.

I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.

Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.

I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer. I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.

I have been left frustrated by the club’s position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.

The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.

I have consistently relayed my feelings to senior management at Southampton in what I believed to be private and personal conversations. Disappointingly, these conversations have regularly found their way into the media.

I would also like to make clear that I have never once refused to train. I can confirm that I was asked about my frame of mind and for all of the reasons mentioned above I was open and honest in saying that I did not feel I was in a settled mindset given the circumstances.

Following this conversation the manager explained that he only wanted players who he felt were 100% committed to Southampton and told me I would therefore have to train away from the first team.

As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events.

I had very much hoped to retain the good relationship I’ve always enjoyed with everyone at the club, especially the fans, but unfortunately in light of everything that’s happened this has now been seriously affected.

I would like to make clear that I have nothing but gratitude to everyone at Southampton for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

However, the time for me to move on is now and I hope to be able to work with the club to find the best resolution to suit all parties.

Forgive the cynicism, but maybe if Van Dijk was so eager to advance his career then perhaps he shouldn’t have signed a new six-year contract with Southampton in May of 2016?

To that end, this very much seems to be a mess of his own making.