Virgil van Dijk appeared extremely emotional after the Netherlands crashed out of the Euros with just one game remaining and said he had a lot to think about this summer.
The Liverpool captain led his team to the semi-finals but was one obstacle short of England, ending his club and international season with 5,395 minutes across 64 games.
So it’s no surprise that the 33-year-old expressed his exhaustion in interviews and on Instagram following the Netherlands’ defeat.
And despite his emotional state, he was asked if he would consider international retirement, according to Reuters, adding: “It’s not on my mind at the moment.
“I will think carefully about what I want to do this summer, both at club level and as an international player. Then I will try again, but first I will recover from this.”
“It’s emotional because it’s the end of a season like this and everything that’s happened, and I know it’s over.”
It’s not necessarily something Liverpool fans should be worried about, but it is concerning given the player’s current situation as he enters the final year of his contract at Anfield.
In May, the defender said there had been no progress on new terms but stressed he was “very happy” and “loves the club”.
Van Dijk has had an emotional season, narrowly missing out on the title and saying goodbye to Jurgen Klopp, so it is no surprise to see him go off with cameras in his face.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s just difficult. It’s hard to take. It’s emotional,” he added after the Netherlands were knocked out.
“It’s been a very, very, very long year, a tough year. We had big dreams and we thought we could achieve them as a team, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.”
The 33-year-old later reiterated that his emotional and physical batteries were running low and that he needed a “much-needed break” to give himself time to think and recharge.
On Instagram, he wrote: “It hurts. After a long and intense tournament, our journey is coming to an end. I want to say a huge thank you to the fans who traveled with us, cheered us on, and were there for us until the very end.
“After a year of ups and downs, both physically and emotionally, I now need a much-needed break to reflect and recharge. It has been an honor to lead this special group.”
Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes has revealed little about contract extensions, only reaffirming the “complete commitment” of players entering their final year of service.
With Arne Slot’s arrival bringing a lot of change to the club and an international break on the horizon, we will likely have to wait for any meaningful updates on Van Dijk’s future.
