Virgil Van Dijk has told Saints he wants to leave and is training alone after Mauricio Pellegrino removed him from the squad, but Saints position is still unmoved he will not be sold, Arron Sanders gives the initial report.

Reports have emerged on Friday afternoon from new Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino regarding the current situation regarding unsettled defender Virgil Van Dijk.

Virgil van Dijk has said he wants to leave and is not currently in a fit “psychological” state to play for the club, and the Argentine coach has ordered the Dutchman to train separately from the first team squad.

In his first interview since taking over at Southampton, Pellegrino has reiterated the club’s stance that Van Dijk will not be sold this summer and says that he hopes the 26-year-old will be reintegrated into the squad once he accepts the situation.

Van Dijk has made it clear he still wishes to leave the club despite the firm stance taken by owner Katharina Liebherr and chairman Ralph Krueger over his future. Van Dijk was also on Chelsea’s list of defensive targets at the start of the summer. Speaking at Southampton’s Marchwood training ground, Pellegrino said that he believed that Van Dijk would eventually return to the first team squad.

Pellegrino said: “My relationship with Virgil is excellent. I was clear with the boy, and I was talking from the first day with him. The club was clear. The club told me they will not sell Virgil. I communicate the idea of the club to the players and for me it was easy [to leave Van Dijk out of training] because I had to manage the dynamic of the team.

“Now he is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100 per cent. If you are not 100 per cent with the team I need to work with the players who are 100 per cent to defend Southampton. It’s easy for me.”

It was Pellegrino’s decision that Van Dijk train separately, and the Argentine is expected to be uncompromising when it comes to protecting the team spirit at the club. “The boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave. This is the decision. I had to say, ‘If you don’t want to be involved because you don’t feel okay then you have to train alone until this period of time is over.”

Asked whether Van Dijk would leave, Pellgerino said: “I repeat that the club said not. I hope that Virgil can review his feelings because you know that today a player is big business. Not just the player but behind them is a lot of interests. I don’t want to say too much but we need the player, 100 per cent. I want to help the squad, I want to help Virgil, but we need a player, and I repeat, involved in every training session, not just with the body but with the mind on the pitch with the rest of the players.”

Pellegrino is sure that Southampton can emerge from the transfer window with Van Dijk back in the team. He has the full backing of executive director Les Reed and recruitment director Ross Wilson, the two key figures in Southampton’s remarkable trading success over recent years.

Pellegrino also said on the current squads requirements: “I believe the team needs important players to be stronger but there is no player more important than all the rest. This is clear for me. There are a few examples that are more important than the rest — Alfredo Di Stefano, Pele … we talk about George Best, Bobby Charlton, but I don’t know how many others. Today, maybe Lionel Messi.

“I believe none of us are more important than the team, and this is crucial. The team needs important players, but important players need the team more than the other. I don’t know [how long the stand-off can go on]. I know I need all the players. I need the 25 players, I need Virgil to be involved in the dynamic every day and to be prepare to play.

“If the manager has got 26 soldiers instead of 23 it is better. We need everybody. When you sign a contract you are part of the team, because you cannot play your own game. It’s something we have to know from the beginning. The club was clear and for me it was easy, but I am responsible for the dynamic of the team. The group support this dynamic because we respect everybody, but we have to respect the club because that it is more important than any person.”

It seems like the speculation surrounding Virgil Van Dijk is going to rumble on, until either the window closes or the club decides to sell the player.

One thing is for sure he should be stripped of the role of player captain, with the likes of either Oriol romeu or James Ward-Prowse candidates to replace him.

It should be noted this behaviour is out of character for Van Dijk, but his agent and Liverpool have obviously persuaded him to take this drastic stance to try and force through a move to Liverpool.

What do you make of the latest developments in the Van Dijk saga? do you agree with me that he should be stripped of the captaincy?

Photo: Action Images

amsterdamsaint added 01:23 - Jul 22 Reserves for me. For the full 5 years. Cost 20 mil over that time for wages. Fine. Put down a marker. I Am cool with that. 65+ mil or 20 mil loss. I am happy with the latter. Show some balls Saints.
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TeamCortese added 01:35 - Jul 22 This is disgraceful but unfortunately a is sad reality of today’s football climate. For me the word that springs to mind is “professional”. VVD is a professional footballer under contract earning larges sums of money doing a profession that I’m assuming he loves. Not many people have that. Not to mention millions of people willing to support you throughout your career. We should make him regret this decision. We should try something along the lines of what West Brom did to Berahino. Let him rot in the reserves. He’s trying to screw us over even though we pay his wages (both the club and the fans). He was out for half the season and was given captaincy yet still wants to leave. Some people need a reality check. VVD has not only lost credibility with Saints fan but most probably with the rest of the football community. He could have handled this saga very differently but instead has decided to throw his toys out of the pram. If we can sell him abroad for £70-80 odd million then I think that’s a good piece of business. Ideally I’d rather he’d stays and we build the team around him but if he no longer committed then we should just cut our losses and move on. Why oh why are we constantly going through this? There must be something seriously wrong with the runnings of the football club? Are we making false promises upon signing players? This surely isn’t sustainable? On the captaincy I think we should give it to Yoshida for his loyalty and stepping up last season or possibly Romeu (definitely not JWP!). I would love it to be an Englishman who knows what it means to represent saints fc but I haven’t seen that yet.

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junior_89 added 06:27 - Jul 22 I wish we had a player of great quality and integrity who would make a statement that they are 100% committed to southampton. Not the board (as this can change), not the club (as with the regular sales, there is no stability), not the fans (I acknowledge that we can be fickle) but to something more, to the ideology of what southampton could be, to the city and the to the pride to those who watch the mighty saints play their brand of football that has made us a favourite for the true supporters and the partisans not only domestic but world wide. We need a truly talented player who has bought in to the southampton way that doesn't want an easy win by joining an already established top team for another medal/trophy for their repertoire but to truly achieve something great with their ability, strength, courage and determination. Leicester showed the world what a team can do if they truly believe in their ability but unfortunately they crumbled to the pressures of how the also rans dictated how they should have followed up their season, it may have been a wise decision but in doing so they lost that self belief that made them the such a dangerous and solid team. We need a "hero" who is willing to give his all in every game and encourage every man on the pitch to do the same and to also stand up to the board and say " I'm not going anywhere, I believe in this club but we need you to believe in us too and support everyone not only financially but also with a show of intent that we are not here merely to generate profits to the shareholders but to generate pride in our team as there is in Newcastle, Sunderland, the manchesters and the Merseyside's." I think the board took a long hard look at themselves and the position the club is in and decided what they and the fans want.

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helpineedsomebody added 08:34 - Jul 22 what came 1st the chicken or the egg solve that then you resolve the problem with virgal van dyke
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highfield49 added 09:20 - Jul 22 Like many other supporters I no longer wish to see VVD wearing a Saints shirt at any level. It now seems highly probable to me that his ankle injury had healed and he could have played some games at the back end of last season. The thought of him leading the team out at St Mary's and applauding the supporters fills me with complete disgust. Do I have a solution? I think a loan move to Italy, where he can demonstrate his ability far away from Liverpool, and then sell for big money in January.

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jazzdougan added 10:03 - Jul 22 Les reed needs to dig his heels in with VVD and not let him leave, otherwise we will always be a selling club and will never progress. An example of him should be made which shows all other players, that if SFC don't want to sell you, then you will not be sold, even if you sulk like a 5yr old! I know that 60m is a lot of money to waste especially if his value drops from not playing, however, that being said, it would be the best investment SFC could ever make for the future of the club

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NigD added 10:55 - Jul 22 The club hold every single card with this one. VVD was given a 6 year 20million contract to play for SFC. That is enough money to give 20 of us a lifetime of luxury. We don't need the money from his sale, so now is the time to make a huge example of him and let him get over himself on his personal training pitch away from every other Saints player. I would not play him in the reserves. Funny how no transfer request has been made? He likes the thought of the selling fee no doubt? He has the potential of being the best CB on the planet. I loved watching the guy. Would pay just to see him. But unless he makes a swift apology to the club and fans, there is seemingly no way back. If he puts in a transfer request, then £75 mill to anybody except Liverpool. Would rather he went to Pompey or Everton, than allowing Liverpools arrogant method of stealing players win out!

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aceofthebase added 11:02 - Jul 22 Does he get paid less for his belligerent attitude? I hope his take home pay drops considerably whilst refusing to play and also he is fined heavily by saints for every day that this continues
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aceofthebase added 11:08 - Jul 22 Are all the Dutch money grabbing and disloyal?
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PJ17 added 13:31 - Jul 22 Yet another money grabbing petulant child who has the moral fortitude of a politician. What irks me most is that he has been injured for six months and has been treated and rehabilitated by a club and supported to reach peak fitness. Then he throws his toys out of the pram and now says he wants to leave. Shouldn't the club ask for his wages back when he wasn't playing. As for Liverpool. All of the comments in their press and from ex players unfortunately cannot be attributed to the club. However we should refuse to sell him to Liverpool and definitely let him go abroad. That way we don't have to see his smug mug playing against us. Virgil you had the capacity to be a legend at this club. So disappointed that you chose to look elsewhere for fame and glory. What have Liverpool won recently? Nothing!!!

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patred added 13:51 - Jul 22 Yes you're right Les Reed held all the cards, every ace, but yet again we end up selling our best players to rivals at the beginning of the season, a new manager, and our pre season preparations are in turmoil. Yet the club has blamed players, blamed managers, blamed agents !! Isn't it time we question the way we are running this club? Because this is not sustainable, it will implode, and all the work done in getting us in the top 10 wil bel for nothing.

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bstokesaint added 14:13 - Jul 22 Pat, don't think you can put this one on the club. We're all p1ssed right now and looking for someone to blame, but I'd be disappointed if the club changed its policy from buying young, promising players (whose value will inevitably rise) to buying older players looking for a last big pay day. If you want to blame anyone (aside from the self centred players who couldn't give a flying one about the fans), then blame the media for turning football into a circus or the footballing bodies for not taking better control.

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Saintsfc added 14:39 - Jul 22 I like how the same issues reoccur every single season and it's always the players fault.. Saintsfc are geniuses, they are the common denominator each year but they are doing everything in the interest of the fans/FOOTBALL team according to the supporters
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Saintsfc added 14:46 - Jul 22 Forgot to mention the managers too.. Saintsfc board must just be soo unlucky being the only club this happens too consistently in Europe. Unlucky is the only possible explanation
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patred added 15:06 - Jul 22 b'stoke we rely on the media and the club for news. As usual, the media has given it to us fairly straight, they said he was off from the start. Our club denies he will leave. Yet our club has been happy to deflect the blame onto the bidding club, agent, and/or player. It was the same when every player has been sold off in the last 3-4 years.. from Lambert to this one....and who is to say VvD will be last this window? We have to change the way we do things otherwise, as we see, we face the same problem every window.

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SaintBrock added 15:22 - Jul 22 I'm not so sure that VvD is quite the finished article that most assume he is. The lack of interest by clubs other than Liverpool may be through some form of 'big club' collusion but more likely through caution over a player who has yet to show a high level of consistency and discipline in his play at the highest level and who has suffered the type of injury that is notoriously hard to heal. Until he plays again these question marks will hang over the player. Even by today's standards £75M + is still a very large & risky investment to make on a wing and a prayer.

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SaintBrock added 15:27 - Jul 22 Are all the Dutch money grabbing and disloyal? None of the many that I know personally nor indeed Jordie Classe if it comes to that.
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SaintBrock added 15:31 - Jul 22 Unlucky is the only possible explanation You omitted having to cow tail to Les Greed which is the most likely reason why people who seemingly are quite willing to come here but then can't get out fast enough... or having to put up with Kelvin Davies and his juvenile sense of humour as your mentor?
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aceofthebase added 18:04 - Jul 22 Saintbrock no-one is offering big money for Clasie, hardly surprising but anyway two out of three are money grabbing and disloyal
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retnim added 23:36 - Jul 22 Sell him to anyone but Liverpool
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legineloc added 13:49 - Jul 23 I am disappointed in his stance, but it's the way football is going with tap ups etc, Players that wanted to leave used to put a transfer request, but today's player say they don't wish to play for the club & want to leave, this means when they are sold they get a percentage of the fee & a large signing fee,GREED,GREED, take the captains armband off him & let him rot, by the end of transfer window he would be back playing, because of the World Cup coming up & wouldn't want to miss out on a place

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RogerToye added 20:27 - Jul 23 mockery of contracts and stability signed for six years maybe its the agent, wanting a piece of the action player should remain if he is sold, its clear the club goes back on its word of not for sale.. doubt I will fund anymore players wages
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