Sport
Van Dijk knew 'after one second' in conversation with Xavi he wanted to continue with Oranje
Virgil Van Dijk stated he decided immediately during a conversation with new national team coach Xavi that he intends to continue playing for the Netherlands until the 2028 European Championship. The 35-year-old defender expressed appreciation for Xavi’s respect, which helped reignite his motivation following a disappointing World Cup campaign where the Netherlands was eliminated by Morocco. Van Dijk firmly denied media reports claiming it was his idea to play with five defenders, calling such statements "complete nonsense." He also described his departure from former coach Ronald Koeman as amicable, noting they parted as friends despite the tournament's outcome.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's