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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Kyle Newbould

'Join Liverpool!' - Frenkie de Jong shares cheeky transfer message sent by Qatar migrant worker

Frenkie de Jong was told he 'had to join Liverpool' by a migrant worker as the Netherlands put on an open training session.

Louis Van Gaal's Oranje flew out to Qatar earlier this week as they prepare for their first World Cup since 2014. Reds defender Virgil van Dijk will lead his nation out for the first time in a major tournament - he missed Euro 2020 with an ACL injury picked up during the Merseyside Derby - when they face a Senegal side without Sadio Mane on Monday, November 21.

Ahead of their opening fixture, van Dijk, de Jong and their teammates hosted a number of migrant workers who had helped to build stadiums and develop the surrounding areas in preparation for the visit of the world's best footballers. Van Dijk was pictured on the Netherlands Twitter account laughing with one of the workers, while small-sided games were also arranged.

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And speaking about the experience afterwards, Barcelona midfielder de Jong hinted that there may have been a Reds fan within the invited group.

"It was special for them (migrant workers), but also for us," de Jong told Dutch outlet AD.NL. "It gives us energy and joy. A lot of people came and there was no time to have a personal conversation. One guy told me I had to join Liverpool! We loved doing this, but now the focus goes to Senegal."

Liverpool have been linked with an interest in de Jong recently, with ESPN reporting that the Reds were eyeing a January bid as the midfielder grew frustrated with a lack of playing time at Barcelona. The 25-year-old has started only 13 games across all competitions for the Catalan side after they reportedly attempted to force him out in the summer.

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