SEPP VAN DEN Berg admits that he considered talk of interest from Liverpool to be “a joke” before seeing a £1.3 million move to Anfield wrapped up.
The 17-year-old Dutch defender has become the latest addition to Jurgen Klopp’s ranks on Merseyside.
A player of immense potential, he has been acquired with one eye on the future.
Van den Berg is looking forward to taking on that challenge with the Reds, with the last few weeks having been something of a dream for the highly-rated youngster.
Quizzed by Liverpool’s official website on what a move to the current holders of the Champions League crown means, he said: “Can I put it into words? It’s just amazing. It is, for me, the biggest club in the world and it’s a dream come true. I am really excited.”
He added on the transfer talk which built quickly to this point: “I couldn’t believe it, I thought it was a joke.
I was really happy and, to be honest, I was a little bit scared at first, because such a big club had interest in me. So, I was a little bit scared but eventually I was really excited.”
Van den Berg believes that he boasts the qualities to be a success at a Premier League giant.
He said of his attributes: “I am a centre-half, I am calm with the ball, I am quite quick and can run, but I came here especially to improve myself more.
I think this is the best place for me to grow and hopefully play a lot of games here.”
There will be plenty of familiar faces at Anfield to help Van den Berg settle.
Netherlands internationals Georginio Wijnaldum and Virgil van Dijk are established members of the fold, with the latter having helped to convince a new arrival that Liverpool is the best place for him.
“I was thinking about [the idea of] training with Virgil. For me, he is the best defender in the world right now, so I can learn a lot from him,” said Van den Berg.
Van Dijk is already well on his way to becoming an all-time great at Liverpool, and that is a standing that Van den Berg intends to enjoy at some point further down the line.
He said of his ambitions in England: “Longer term, I hope I can play as much as possible here for the club.
“Short term, [my target is] to be with the first team, develop myself, grow into the team and see how it goes.
“Long term, I really want to be a legend here.”
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Not even close!!!
Except if Van Dijk is turned he has the pace to recover and also turns faster than a JCB in the first place. If Maguire goes to City I can see him being punished on the break. Also if he was the exact same player only Irish theres not a hope this figure would be paid for him and he probably wouldn’t have even got to Leicester.
@Hugh Jass: I don’t know what Maguire you’re taking about, but this lad bossed City’s attack a few weeks back and had no problem running up the wing with the ball , skipping past opposition wingers and defenders and putting in a fairly decent cross for a CB… and don’t say that’s just one game !!! Its my opinion he has the same attributes as Ramos in that he’s powerful, good in the air, can run with the ball and is a danger in the box for any defending team…..
There is similarities in their play tbf. Van dyke is better but I do rate Maguire and we would see what he can do at a better team. Time would tell.
@Seaniecp: Agree, and I do think he would be a great addition to the Utd team.
@Logan Shepherd: not for 100m
@Ich bin brendan: Definitely not. He’s not worth half that. But at the right money he is better than Utd’s current CB options. In my opinion anyway.
@Ich bin brendan: I wouldn’t believe fees that are being tossed around in the media or on social networks. He other day sky reported that but city and Utd would pay 65m for him … then you here 100m then 100m plus addons etc from other sources
Decent player but overacted by English media.
What is he smoking
Ha,ha,ha.
Hilarious
Hey 42 I think that’s just a picture Tody Leonard Moore in a Leicester jersey
A big lump