LIVERPOOL superstar Virgil van Dijk believes the coronavirus pandemic will have players considering their retirement.
It has been two months since the last Premier League fixture with the nation remaining in lockdown.
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Van Dijk claims footballers will be considering their retirements following lockdownCredit: Reuters
There are still 92 games of the campaign to be completed if Premier League chiefs can finalise ‘Project Restart.’
And Van Dijk, 28, thinks the lockdown will have given fellow players a glimpse of their futures once football is over.
He told BT Sport: “The whole build-up to the game as well as seeing the boys, obviously, we are spending so much time together and then we aren’t for two months.
“The feeling you have now is something you have never had before.
“It makes you appreciate a little bit more. It’s going to be strange. I don’t want to think about retirement but it’s definitely going to be a strange thing.
“It makes you think how difficult it is for players to make the decision to retire.
“Obviously you need to work hard and provide for your family but there is going to be a period of uncertainty when you have no idea what to do, like at the moment, as you have no idea what will happen.”
Van Dijk joined the Reds in 2018 from Southampton and instantly transformed the defence into one of the strongest in the world.
He also revealed why he chose Liverpool, admitting it was the fans who swayed his decision.
Van Dijk added: “Before I made the decision to choose Liverpool, I looked at all the aspects of the clubs. The way of playing, the team-mates, the future as well.
“The city, the fans everything got to be big part of joining a club.
“I think Liverpool at that time when I made the decision was the right decision and obviously to reach the Champions League final in my first six months was obviously a big bonus and helped me a lot in my development.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
