Virgil van Dijk training alone after asking to leave Southampton
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has confirmed that captain Virgil van Dijk is training alone after asking to leave.
The Dutch centre-back has been the subject of much speculation this summer, with Liverpool previously having to apologise to Saints for their conduct whilst pursuing the player.
He had also been a target for both Arsenal and Chelsea, but it is yet to be seen if the Blues retain their interest having signed Antonio Rudiger from Roma.
"He is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100%," Pellegrino told BBC Radio Solent,
"When I was talking with him, the boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave.
"I need to work with a player that works at 100% to defend Southampton.
"This is the decision. I had to say: 'OK, if you don't want to be involved because you don't feel OK, you have to train alone until this period of time.'"
This may not spell the end of van Dijk’s career at St. Mary’s though, with the Spanish manager leaving the door open for a reprieve.
"We need the player, but 100% this is the question," he added
"I hope that Virgil can review his feelings, because you know that today players are big business, not just the player but behind him there is a lot of interest.”
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