Virgil van Dijk hits out over Liverpool leak days after Arne Slot sacking
Virgil van Dijk has revealed how he found out about the dismissal of Arne Slot with the Liverpool captain far from pleased
Virgil van Dijk has hit out at Liverpool’s decision to sack Arne Slot being leaked(Image: NOS 2026)
Virgil van Dijk has slammed the ‘leaks’ of Arne Slot being sacked, with the Liverpool captain revealing that was how he found out.
“I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon and it had already leaked. After that, of course, I had conversations. But the decision had already been made earlier. It is not like they are asking me how or what,” he told NOS after the Netherlands’ friendly defeat to Algeria on Wednesday.
“I have spoken with Arne and with Sipke (Hulshoff, assistant coach.). That is the most important thing for me. I am very grateful to them. For everything they have meant, not only to me but also to the club. I wish them nothing but success.”
He added: “We are now living in a world where everyone [every journalist] wants to be the first person to break the news. These people are the ones that benefit from it. Yeah… this is the reality.”
Van Dijk was the first Liverpool player to respond publicly to Slot’s sacking with the likes of Hugo Ekitike, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and several others also sending well wishes.
In Liverpool’s statement confirming his immediate exit, it was clarified that work to appoint a successor was already underway and it very quickly emerged that the club were targeting Andoni Iraola.
Negotiations between the two parties got to an advanced stage swiftly with the former Bournemouth boss set to be confirmed as Liverpool’s new head coach in the coming days.
The 43-year-old is set to sign a two-year contract at Anfield and wants Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper and Tom Webber to join as his backroom staff.
He will also reunite with former Bournemouth pair Milos Kerkez and sporting director Richard Hughes with transfers set to be on the latter’s agenda.
For most players however, the World Cup will undoubtedly be their focus over the next few weeks with the tournament officially starting next Thursday.
Liverpool trio Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo suffered a shock defeat with the Netherlands on Wednesday
Numerous Liverpool stars have already jetted off to prepare for their respective nations with Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch suffering a shock defeat to Algeria.
Fellow Dutchman and club team-mate Jeremie Frimpong has not even been included in Ronald Koeman’s squad with Hugo Ekitike and Curtis Jones as other Liverpool stars to miss the World Cup.
Following difficult first campaigns, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak both scored for Germany and Sweden, respectively, in the last few days.
Elsewhere, Andy Robertson is set to captain Scotland while fellow recently-departed stars Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah set to be stateside as well.
