Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says new signing Bradley Barcola has already shown his quality in France and expects the winger to succeed despite the pressure of his £123m transfer.
The 35-year-old Dutch defender was speaking in an exclusive interview with journalist Ben Tibbits for the Autumn/Winter 2026 edition of British men’s fashion and culture magazine Man About Town.
Barcola completed his move shortly before the interview, joining a Liverpool squad entering a period of major change under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
“He had a very good performance in training today,” said Van Dijk.
“He joined for such a high transfer fee, which is not something he can control. He has already proven his abilities in France. He is a high-level player, and I think he will perform well.”
Liverpool drew 2-2 with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in their opening two matches of the 2026/27 Premier League season, while the summer transfer window was due to close on the day of the interview.
“Then we can really get to work,” Van Dijk said.
The defender is beginning his ninth full season at Liverpool, having joined from Southampton in January 2018. The club finished fifth last season, leading to the departure of his fellow Dutchman Arne Slot and the appointment of Iraola, who arrived from Bournemouth.
Van Dijk described Iraola as someone who “works very hard”, while acknowledging that Liverpool will need time to adapt to his modern and flexible approach.
The squad has also changed significantly. Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah has left, along with many of the players who helped the club win the Premier League and Champions League under Jurgen Klopp from the late 2010s into the early 2020s.
Liverpool have invested heavily in a younger group, including Swedish striker Alexander Isak, new centre-back partner Jeremie Jacquet and Barcola.
That has increased Van Dijk’s responsibility as captain. On the pitch, his calm authority and technical quality remain central to Liverpool’s defence; away from it, he sees himself as a senior voice for Iraola and a supportive figure for his team-mates.
“You want to be a role model in how you handle things, how you look at life,” he said.
“I feel that responsibility and really hope I can understand what that responsibility means.
“From that perspective, I am proud to be that kind of person. It always keeps me grounded in a world that can sometimes be quite chaotic.”
Van Dijk also reflected on a difficult summer with the Netherlands. Their World Cup campaign in North America ended in the Round of 32 after Morocco won a penalty shootout, while he still remembers the pain of losing to England in the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2024.
“Sometimes that’s just how life is,” he said. “You just have to accept it. Sometimes, the other team wins.”
Despite reports that he might retire from international football, Van Dijk has rejected the idea and is targeting the European Championship in two years under new coach Xavi Hernandez. He recently became the 11th player in Dutch football history to win 100 caps.
Van Dijk finished second to Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote and was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. Although he has won most major honours available to him with Celtic and Liverpool, he insists his ambition is unchanged.
“Whether I’m on the pitch, in the gym, or at home, I always maintain the same desire for success,” he said. “I am playing to compete and training to win. That will never change.”
