Gullit reveals 50/50 split in Netherlands over Van Dijk's international future

Virgil van Dijk’s international future is the subject of fierce debate in the Netherlands, with new national team manager Xavi Hernandez due to hold talks with the Liverpool captain during the current international break.

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit described the split among fans as “50/50”, telling Comeon.com: “There is a huge debate in Holland over whether he should retire. Yes or no? Some people think that he should. Others say that he shouldn’t.”

Van Dijk, 33, would be 37 by the time Euro 2028 arrives in the UK and Ireland, fuelling calls from some quarters for Xavi — who replaced Ronald Koeman after the Netherlands’ last-32 World Cup exit to Morocco — to begin building a younger squad. Gullit, however, believes the decision ultimately rests with the player himself.

“I think it’s most important to see how Xavi feels about him and it depends on how Virgil feels about it,” Gullit said. “If he still feels fit enough, then he should make his decision about it, and that’s up to him.”

Xavi has retained Van Dijk in his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, which begin with a home clash against Germany before back-to-back meetings with Serbia and a trip to Greece. The Spaniard, who won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, took the Netherlands job after a spell at Barcelona that ended in 2024, having previously managed Qatari club Al Sadd.

Gullit noted that any international retirement would likely be welcomed by Liverpool, where Van Dijk’s contract expires next summer. “I’m sure that Liverpool would say yes,” he said, “but that’s not fair to him because maybe he thinks he can still do both. And it comes back to how he feels about what he can offer.”

“We will have to wait and see what happens in the international break because I think Virgil and Xavi will have had a conversation. He went to watch Van Dijk. I’m curious to see what’s going to happen too.”

The outcome of those discussions could have significant implications not only for the Netherlands’ long-term planning but also for Van Dijk’s availability and longevity at club level.