Manchester City are said to have missed out on the opportunity to bring Virgil van Dijk to the Etihad prior to him signing for Liverpool because they felt the fee Southampton were asking was ‘ridiculous’ (Amazon Prime documentary All or Nothing, via Football365).
The Dutchman has gone on to become arguably the world’s best defender and is in many peoples eyes the reason Jurgen Klopp’s side have become such a formidable force.
So what have the City fans made of the reports they were unwilling to splash in excess of £75m on the former Celtic defender after City Chief relayed the information to their followers on Twitter?
At the time, were you disappointed City were unwilling to pay £75m for Van Dijk?
Yes
No
You win some and lose some
— Depression SZN (@DeBrxyne17) January 3, 2020
If they thought VVD for £75mio was ridiculous then i wonder what they thought of £85mio for Maguire!!!
— Rick Dykstra (@RickD64) January 3, 2020
Well Laporte was younger, cheaper and has won more.
— I’m not really here (@HereReallyNotIm) January 3, 2020
In reality his price at that time was unnatural.
It’s all about luck… what if Liverpool couldn’t have won the Champions League with him? What if City would’ve been the same as of now with him? Let’s be content with what the current squad has.— J P Behera (@itz_jpb) January 3, 2020
Can’t take W’s all the time I guess
— Caruso Stan (@caruso_stan) January 3, 2020
Tbf didn’t expect him to be as good as he is now, 75Mill at the time was Defs too much. Still wish we’d got him
— THBszn (@RupertKudelka14) January 3, 2020
What do we think?
Virgil van Dijk had impressed at Southampton but it’s fair to say there wouldn’t have been many who envisaged him becoming as influential as he has since joining the Merseyside club. Therefore, perhaps Manchester City can be forgiven for being hesitant to spend such a huge amount of money in order to capture the now 28-year-old.
Given Pep Guardiola’s troubles at centre-back this season, it’s no surprise these rumours have re-surfaced but the club’s supporters seem to be taking this all too familiar story with a pinch of salt.