Virgil van Dijk has revealed he will sit down with incoming Netherlands manager Xavi before making a decision on his international career, leaving the door open for an extended stay with the national team.
The 35-year-old Liverpool defender has been a mainstay for the Netherlands for years, leading the side through two World Cups and a run to the semi-finals at Euro 2024. His future with the national team has come under scrutiny following the departure of Ronald Koeman, who handed Van Dijk the captain's armband back in 2018 during the first of his two spells in charge. Xavi, the former Barcelona midfielder and manager, has now been confirmed as Koeman's successor.
Speaking about his next steps, Van Dijk made clear that his continued participation hinges on how valued he feels within the setup rather than any physical concerns. "It's a good question," he said. "I will have that meeting with the new manager first. Let's see."
He went on to explain that the outcome could depend heavily on the tone of that upcoming conversation with Xavi. "It's also a little bit down to that conversation. Everyone wants to feel appreciated, loved and important. I feel like I'm still very much valuable and important for the team," Van Dijk said. He added that a positive dialogue could pave the way for him to remain a key figure for some time yet: "If the manager sees it that way, then we're going to have another good two years. If not, then we will see. I will have the meeting with him, and then we'll go from there."
Notably, Van Dijk dismissed the idea that a heavy club workload might push him toward international retirement. Despite logging more than 6,000 minutes across club and country last season for Liverpool and the Netherlands, he insisted that fatigue is not a factor in his thinking. "Not at all," he said. "Some players do but not me. With anything you do, you want to feel respected, loved and appreciated for your work and the quality that you bring. Let's see if that's still the case, and then we'll go from there."
The defender's importance to the national side is underlined by his statistics: he has earned 96 caps for the Netherlands and sits just four appearances short of joining the exclusive group of players to reach a century of international caps.
Should he continue at his current pace, Van Dijk would be approaching his 37th birthday by the time of Euro 2028, raising questions about how long he can realistically extend his international tenure at the highest level. Nevertheless, his comments suggest he still sees himself as central to the team's plans rather than winding down his involvement.
Xavi's arrival marks a significant change in direction for the Dutch federation, and how he manages senior figures like Van Dijk will likely shape early impressions of his tenure. The upcoming talks between the two are expected to be pivotal not just for Van Dijk's personal future, but potentially for the leadership structure of the squad heading into future tournaments.
For now, the captain's fate with the Oranje remains undecided, with Van Dijk stressing that respect and appreciation, rather than form or fitness, will determine whether he continues to lead his country on the international stage.
Based on reporting from Independent (Football).