The Liverpool and Netherlands skipper posted a blast from the past during the the international break
Ex-Celtic star Virgil van Dijk
Ex-Celtic star Virgil van Dijk(Image: PA)
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Superstar Virgil van Dijk got his first taste of elite European football with Celtic.
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The Dutch powerhouse made his Champions League debut in 2013, finding himself up against some of the biggest names in the game. Barcelona and AC Milan were among the opposition as the rookie defender went toe-to-toe with Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
Fast forward 13 years and Van Dijk has established himself among the game's greats, conquering England and Europe with Liverpool. But now, the Netherlands captain finds himself on the same side of the fence as one of the men he once battled against.
Barca icon Xavi, 46, replaced Ronald Koeman in the hotseat last month and got off to a winning start as Holland beat Serbia 2-1 in the Nations League. And Van Dijk appears delighted to be working under one of the all-time greats after sharing a rare throwback on social media showing the pair going head-to-head during his Celtic days.
The two-time Premier League champion posted a selection of snaps from the latest international break, but tucked away among them was a picture of himself and Xavi in action at Celtic Park. The image didn't escape the attention of former Hoops kid Jackson Irvine, who replied with a four-leaf clover emoji. Van Dijk and Xavi will now be looking to make it two wins from two when the Netherlands travel to Greece on Thursday night.
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