Virgil van Dijk believes former Liverpool team-mate Georginio Wijnaldum should be in the Netherlands squad.
Wijnaldum left Anfield last summer for a big-money move to French champions Paris Saint-Germain but has failed to recapture the form that saw him become a fan-favourite on Merseyside. Often left out of the PSG first-team, a lack of games over the past few 12 months has seen the 31-year-old lose his space in the international squad.
Van Dijk was just one of a number of players with the Dutch squad during the international break who spoke up for the return of Wijnaldum. While admitting he's not going through the best of times in his career, the player's quality is something Holland can't do without, according to Liverpool defender.
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“I think – but I’m not the national coach – that Gini with his qualities always belongs in orange,” Van Dijk said before Friday night's 4-0 win over Belgium.
“But he’s not at the best stage of his career. He’s not comfortable in his own skin. He has to accept the choice that the national coach has made.”
Holland boss Louis van Gaal responded to the ongoing calls last month, saying via Dutch outlet VI : "Unfortunately, little has changed in Gini's situation at his club since our last two international matches in March. As a result, I am forced to make other choices, no matter how difficult and regrettable I personally find it.”
