LIVERPOOL, England — Virgil van Dijk don talk say the noise wey dey around Trent Alexander-Arnold departure no go overshadow Liverpool title celebration. The England right-back, wey don confirm say e go leave di club when im contract expire for June, come play for di first time on Sunday as substitute in di 2-2 draw against Arsenal. Im presence for Anfield meet mixed reactions, as some fans boo am.
“I think di manager talk am well for di press conference say you no fit decide how anybody go feel about di decision wey e make for him and him family,” Van Dijk tell reporters. “Di reaction don happen. Him have to deal with am. We as a team also have to manage am. I believe say maybe e expect dis. We still get two more games before e go, and he go need to show up for dem.”
Di Dutch defender express say dem go really miss Alexander-Arnold when e waka go Real Madrid, calling di player “fantastic” with “exceptional qualities.” Van Dijk emphasize say di team go celebrate their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title in style, including making sure Alexander-Arnold dey part of di trophy lift on di 25th of May.
“We want win two more matches, and after di final whistle, including him [Alexander-Arnold], lift di trophy and celebrate like we never do before,” Van Dijk talk. “I no believe say his decision go take shine off di celebration. Plenty players deserve amazing day too.”
As Van Dijk and di rest of di team dey gear up for di last matches, im reflect on di booing wey Alexander-Arnold receive and how e fit affect di squad. “Di crowd reaction don happen,” e say. “Him have to deal with am, we as a team too. This one no easy, not at all. But we dey here for him.”
Di Liverpool captain also touch on di decision wey Alexander-Arnold take, saying everyone get different phases for dem career. “You go dey talk about one of di biggest clubs for di world like Real Madrid wey e dey go. I don secure my own future too, so I no fit focus on di past. My mind dey on playing well for di club.”
Van Dijk join Mohamed Salah wey recently sign two-year extension contract with di club as he look ahead to di summer transfer market. “I believe say we go make big moves for di summer,” e say. “As champions, e go dey tough to maintain di title, but with di right additions, we fit go again.”
“We fit do proper pre-season, we go work on wetin di manager want make we sabi do better, both with di ball and without di ball. E go be exciting time to dey part of Liverpool, and I trust di decision-makers go make di right decisions,” Van Dijk conclude.
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