Virgil van Dijk has hit out at how news of Arne Slot’s Liverpool sacking ‘leaked’.
Slot was deposed after just two years at the Anfield helm last weekend after an underwhelming follow-up campaign in which he scraped a fifth-place finish.
The Reds’ hierarchy insisted they had not taken the decision, which is set to pave the way for former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola’s appointment, lightly.
But Van Dijk lamented the information coming to light ahead of the official club announcement following the Netherlands’ friendly defeat to Algeria on Wednesday.
“I landed in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon and it had already leaked,” he told NOS.
“After that, of course, I had conversations. But the decision had already been made earlier. It is not like they are asking me how or what.
“I have spoken with Arne and with Sipke (Hulshoff, assistant coach). That is the most important thing for me.
“I am very grateful to them. For everything they have meant, not only to me but also to the club. I wish them nothing but success.”
He added: “We are now living in a world where everyone [every journalist] wants to be the first person to break the news.
“These people are the ones that benefit from it. Yeah… this is the reality.”