Dropped Van Dijk could leave, says Pellegrino
SOUTHAMPTON manager Mauricio Pellegrino axed Virgil van Dijk yesterday — then opened the door for the Dutchman to leave next month.
Pellegrino took the shock decision to drop Van Dijk against Chelsea, though he insisted the central defender was rested.
Van Dijk’s attempts to quit Southampton dominated the summer at St Mary’s.
The club’s £70million asking price proved prohibitive, but there was concrete interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Speaking after Saints’ 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, Pellegrino admitted Van Dijk could be on his way in next month’s window.
He said: ‘I can’t control the market, I’m not the owner of the player.
‘I can have my opinion and I have to give that to the technical director, to the chairman. After that, the board can decide what is best for the team.
‘But I repeat that I can’t control the market right now. I will recommend to try to keep our best player here at the club. The club was clear about it in the beginning and I have the same opinion.’
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was coy about whether he was still keen on signing Van Dijk.
He said: ‘As you know very well, I don’t like to talk about players of the other team. It’s not good.
‘It’s a lack of respect for my players, especially, and for the other team.
‘He’s a really good player. He had a bad injury, but he has recovered very well.’