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“I wasn't even close”

Virgil van Dijk has made an honest admission when comparing himself to Arsenal centre-back William Saliba.

Van Dijk and Saliba are two of the best defenders in the Premier League and possibly world football.

But the 33-year-old Dutchman is envious of the Gunners star who, at just 23, is making a splash in England.

“Obviously, Saliba is making very good steps at the moment,” Van Dijk said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast when asked to name a defender who has impressed him most recently.

“He's the first one I have in mind now. He's solid. I think he's doing a good job in possession.”

Van Dijk later admitted: “I think, if I'm honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he is today.

“Obviously, that's also the beauty of football, I like to watch other defenders and learn a lot of things from them.

“There are so many good players and center backs. When you watch the game, I definitely watch games, especially at the highest level, you can always learn certain things.

“But I also keep in mind that teams defend in a different way than us, so you have to take that into account as well. I think, especially in possession of the ball, the way you position yourself, because obviously we are a team “. who has the ball a lot.

“I play on the left side, right back, center back, obviously for many years. Sometimes it's good to learn the position of certain players and what they do. I feel like, at any age, you can keep learning and I'm definitely still doing that.”