Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has admitted that a Liverpool player has absolutely blown him away.
Arne Slot’s heavyweights hit a mini rut ahead of the international break after losing their last three matches across all competitions.
They now trail Arsenal by one point at the top of the Premier League table, and after spending a staggering £450million on signings during the summer, the pressure is well and truly on.
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However, they still remain a force to be reckoned with, and Cubarsi has been so impressed with the performances of one superstar that he admitted he would like Barcelona to sign him.
Virgil van Dijk reacts after Liverpool conceded during their Premier League defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Pau Cubarsi wants Virgil van Dijk at Barcelona
Despite defeats against Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea, Virgil van Dijk still managed to impress, and he remains one of the very best defenders in the world.
It is no surprise, then, that Cubarsi would like to see the towering Dutchman in Catalonia.
Currently away with Spain on international duty, the young centre-back was asked by Mundo Deportivo whether he would prefer to sign Van Dijk or play like him.
Cubarsi’s answer was quick and simple, as he replied: “To sign Van Dijk, I want to be myself.”
That was not the only hat tip he gave to Van Dijk, either. Indeed, he also mentioned the Liverpool captain during an interview with Diario Sport, when naming a current centre-back he admires.
Van Dijk is clearly setting a shining example for budding defenders to follow, and his recent contract extension until 2027 was a signal of his commitment to the rebuilding project at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk criticised on international duty
However, he has endured a difficult start to the international break.
The Netherlands beat Malta 4-0 in World Cup qualifying on Thursday night, but despite the scoreline, Van Dijk was criticised for a relatively average performance.
The defender was given a 6/10 rating by De Telegraaf, with writer Wilber Hack declaring he had made a “near-fatal error” in the first half and taking exception to his failure to show more “initiative”.
Virgil van Dijk in action for the Netherlands during their World Cup qualifying victory against Malta
Photo by Domenic Aquilina/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Van Dijk was also guilty of a heart-in-mouth moment early in the game, when his attempted pass to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen fell at the feet of a Malta forward instead.
The opportunity was squandered, but Algemeen Dagblad’s Mikos Gouka was not impressed, writing: “It was painful that the Dutch captain had such a lighthearted moment in a team that is all too often accused of lacking urgency in matches.”
He will hope for better when he returns to club duties, with Manchester United at Anfield next up.