Virgil Van Dijk, Wayne Rooney Exchange Barbs In Public Feud

The enduring rivalry betwixt Liverpool and Manchester United has extended beyond nan transportation to nan realms of an ongoing player-pundit feud played retired for each to spot successful nan shape of Virgil van Dijk vs. Wayne Rooney.

Rooney, Manchester United’s retired all-time apical scorer, has been mercifully shifted retired of nan Match of nan Day workplace to big his ain self-titled podcast. When he isn’t reminiscing astir Sir Alex Ferguson’s nuggets of contented aliases Patrice Evra’s annoying habits successful training, nan 40-year-old has taken connected an progressively spiky style of punditry. Liverpool, and Van Dijk successful particular, person been his latest victims.

An first jibe from nan erstwhile England skipper really inspired a consequence from Van Dijk, who dismissed it arsenic “lazy criticism.” Rooney has since doubled down connected his position of nan Liverpool skipper successful an speech of barbs which whitethorn not yet beryllium over.

Wayne Rooney is 1 of nan Premier League’s all-time greats. / BBC Sport

There were fewer hiding places for immoderate Liverpool players successful nan aftermath of past month’s insipid 3–2 conclusion to Brentford. Some members of nan club’s own squad piled successful connected nan wobbling champions, paving nan measurement for Rooney to adhd his ain view. The ex-Everton academy postgraduate questioned nan activity shown by nan pairing of Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

“They’ve signed caller deals but I don’t deliberation they’ve really led that squad this season,” Rooney claimed. “I deliberation assemblage connection tells you a lot, and I deliberation we’re seeing somewhat different assemblage connection from nan 2 of them. They are nan apical 2 players successful that squad and if their assemblage connection is not right, that affects everyone else.

“I mightiness beryllium incorrect connected this, but if I was a Liverpool instrumentality aliases nan manager, that would beryllium a large interest for me.”

Van Dijk Hits Back astatine ‘Lazy Criticism’

Virgil van Dijk has not been astatine his champion this season. / Robin Jones/Getty Images

Van Dijk has intelligibly been stewing connected those comments for nan past week. There was nary chance for nan Dutch defender to connection his ain consequence while watching connected from nan stands arsenic Liverpool mislaid their 5th successive home fixture against Crystal Palace past Wednesday, but a triumph complete Aston Villa connected Saturday nighttime belatedly opened nan doorway for nan towering Dutchman.

After initially limiting himself to a measured response successful his first postmatch interview, calling for a consciousness of calm pursuing immoderate “ridiculous takes,” Van Dijk straight cited Rooney’s comments.

“I didn’t perceive him past year,” nan Premier League champion snapped. “No, it doesn’t wounded maine to beryllium honest. Just to travel backmost to this peculiar player, evidently a legend, a large subordinate of nan crippled who inspired truthful many, I tin opportunity only affirmative things, but I consciousness that remark is just... I would opportunity it’s a spot of a lazy criticism.

“That’s my individual opinion. It’s easy to blasted nan older players but he knows evidently arsenic good arsenic everyone other we do it together trying to thief each and each 1 of america to effort to get retired of this and, for illustration I said arsenic well, past twelvemonth erstwhile things spell good you don’t perceive that astatine all.”

Van Dijk unconvincingly added: “There’s nary difficult feelings.”

Wayne Rooney did not clasp back. / Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Entirely undeterred by Van Dijk’s comments aliases his much-improved capacity against Villa, Rooney stood his ground. “My occupation now arsenic a pundit is to springiness my opinions connected what I feel,” he told his own podcast from a dimly lit trophy room. “I’m judge if you inquire him aliases Arne Slot, he astir apt hasn’t been arsenic bully arsenic he has been complete nan past fewer years. That was my remark which I instrumentality by.”

Rooney was speedy to admit Van Dijk’s enduring value passim his illustrious Premier League career: “I’ve sewage afloat respect for Virgil. I deliberation he’s a awesome player.” But nan harm had already been done.

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