Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been one of the world's best defenders for quite some time, having won various gongs with the Reds and taken home the second-placed title in the Ballon d'Or.
However, there is one star who has a bone to pick with the Dutchman for allegedly 'injuring him on purpose' over 10 years ago, whilst Van Dijk was on the books at Scottish giants Celtic.
And the player in question, Michael Ngoo, used to play for the Reds as a teen, seeing Van Dijk excelling at the team he spent his formative years with.
And, with his active playing career coming to a halt in 2022, Ngoo has claimed that he became depressed after his coming together with the Premier League collossus.
Ngoo: Van Dijk Horror Takle 'Left Me Depressed'
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Speaking after the October 2014 horror tackle that left Ngoo featuring in just two more minutes of football for Kilmarnock for the rest of the season, the London-born striker said at the time:
“I told our physio right away that van Dijk had tried to do me. Before the tackle, there were a few words said between us.
“Then he came through the back of me. I think it was deliberate. I took off my sock in the changing room and there was a horrendous cut. I have the pictures to prove it.”
And, in a telling interview in 2022, the former Reds star admitted that he was mentally burned out by the incident, bravely airing his struggles with his mental health in the years that followed.
Ngoo said: "I wasn’t just injured physically – I was psychologically shattered, as well. Before I had my first operation, the specialist said to me that if my rehab did not go to plan, then I would not play professional football again. He made that clear.
“I went through a very bad time. I’d get in my car, turn the music up and go on long and meaningless motorway journeys – and then I’d drive back home again.
“I was stressed and reflecting about what I should do because I thought that I might not be able to kick a ball again."
Ngoo Was a Promising Liverpool Youngster But Luck Wasn't on His Side
Anfield
Ngoo was then spared jail time in 2018 after being prosecuted for selling nitrious oxide - also known as laughing gas - at a festival. He said of the incident: “I was drinking and hanging around with people who I don’t even see anymore. I wasn’t playing football, and I was up to no good. I was absolutely broken inside, but I wouldn’t show it.”
It's a real shame, as Ngoo was a promising youngster for Liverpool, scoring 16 goals in just 38 games for their under-21 side during the younger parts of his career - including eight goals and four assists in just 15 Premier League 2 outings.
He also made three appearances for England's under-20 team at the U20 World Cup, as the Young Lions incredibly failed to score in all four games, with three 0-0 draws taking them through to the round of 16 where they lost to Nigeria.
Sharing a pitch with the likes of Jack Butland, Saido Berahino, Adam Smith and more out in Colombia, it's interesting to see how vastly different careers can end up.