Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has met up with Kevin De Bruyne and Ronaldo while on holiday as the Reds center-back recovers from a long season.
After lifting the Premier League trophy, Van Dijk then went away on international duty with the Netherlands. But he has since been able to take some time away from playing ahead of preparations for the 2025/26 campaign.
He has posted a picture on Instagram alongside De Bruyne, who lived near Van Dijk while he was playing for Manchester City but has now signed for Napoli, and Ronaldo, the Brazilian legend who looks in great shape.
Van Dijk told reporters after he signed a new two-year contract at Anfield that he was expecting a "big summer". The Reds have delivered that so far, with moves for Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz confirmed and Milos Kerkez on the way.
"I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years," Van Dijk told reporters. "Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they're planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board as Liverpool-connected fans to do the right job.
"I think we 100 per cent can improve. But I think we shouldn't forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season in my opinion. It's incredible how everyone can beat everyone."
In addition to bringing in new players, Liverpool will also have a full summer to work on things having missed out on qualifying for the Club World Cup in the US. And Van Dijk is looking forward to spending some quality time on the training field.
"If you take it all the way back to the [previous] summer, l didn't have a proper pre-season," he continued. "I think I came in on the Monday before we played Sevilla.
"I played 90 minutes straight away, then the following week it was Ipswich and then you're just back into it. You don't have time to work on what the manager really wants in terms of a training camp.
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"This year, there is a training camp and there is time for the team to work on what the manager wants, and I think that will then improve the team.
"There are still so many things to improve, but we shouldn't forget the quality that the Premier League possesses because we see it.
"I think a proper pre-season will definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been."
Liverpool.com says: Van Dijk played every game that mattered last season so having a full summer will be vital for him. The Reds have tied him down to a new deal, which was a no-brainer, but having a refreshed Van Dijk at the start of the new campaign will be a major boost, in addition to new signings.