Exclusive: “I Didn’t Expect This” – Sami Hyypia On Season Success & VVD In The ‘History Books’ | OneFootball

By James Cranford

Just four days after his dramatic late winner against West Ham, Virgil van Dijk brought more joy to Liverpool fans by announcing that he has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Reds.

The news comes hot on the heels of Mo Salah signing on the dotted line, meaning that two of the club’s greatest ever players are both extending their Anfield careers.

After almost a year of near-constant speculation, Van Dijk has put pen to paper on a deal that could see him earn up to £400,000 a week once performance-related bonuses are factored in. The Dutchman has been back to his best for the majority of the current season, and it appears to be a formality that he will lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the campaign.

On the latest episode of our Transfer Insight show, we asked former Liverpool captain Sami Hyypiä for his thoughts on the Virgil news.

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Sami said:

“It’s very important for the future. I think it shows as well for the players who are thinking of signing for us, that when he’s staying and Mo’s staying, the club will be in business in the future as well. It’s very, very important.

“I think every team – every successful team – needs that kind of player. With his presence as well, he’s a big, big man. Great defender.

“I think that age is just a number. Obviously, I saw with age that the recovery time went a little bit. You needed a longer time to recover. I didn’t have the pace to lose, so I think with age, you lose your pace a little bit!

“They still have many years to go. I could have played many years more, but mentally I was somehow in that kind of stage where I wanted to stop playing at 37.

“Last summer, I was on a tour with the team ,and I got to talk with Arne a few times. I knew that we were in good hands, but I didn’t expect this in the first season. They’ve done so well, and it’s very important that you keep the likes of Mo and Virgil in the team.

“He will definitely be among the legends of the club. Obviously, winning the league as a captain. I saw somewhere that he’s the first Dutch captain to win the league. It’s great for him that he’s going to the history books.”

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Redmen Reacts

At last! After what seems like an eternity, the soon-to-be Premier League-winning captain has agreed to extend what has been a fantastic Liverpool career. With FSG famously reluctant to pay big wages to players over 30, fans would have been forgiven for worrying, given the length of time the negotiations have taken. Ultimately, Virgil’s class cannot be ignored, and he has been somewhere near his best for at least the last two seasons. Despite the fact that he turns 34 this July, Van Dijk still rarely has to use his immense recovery pace, so even if that were to dwindle, he should remain the best in the business. He has taken to the role of captain like a duck to water and is set to be the first Dutchman to captain a side to the Premier League title. His class, leadership and high level of performance has meant that, in the end, FSG had no option – they simply had to extend. He is that good. Virgil van Dijk – our captain, here to stay.