Virgil van Dijk might have left Celtic over seven years ago but the Liverpool star remains forever grateful for his Parkhead experience.
The former Hoops favourite has established himself as one of Europe's elite centre-backs and has picked up every piece of silverware available from Premier League to Champions League during his time at Anfield. But the 31-year-old wasn't always regarded a serial winner as he admits he went under the radar as a youngster before finally making a big £2.5million move to the Scottish Premiership in 2013 from Dutch side Groningen.
He told The Overlap that his experience at Celtic was what shaped him to become the rock solid defender that he is today and believes many people don't realise the Glasgow club are "one of the biggest clubs in the world" until they walk through the door.
"I think I went under the radar a bit," admitted Van Dijk. "I got my growth spurt when I was 16, 17 like over the summer I got a crazy growth spurt. You would see me and think 'what's going on here?'.
"I had growing problems, I had to get insoles but after that I started to really evolve and become the captain of the under-19s then I made big steps. Before that I was just a regular boy and I wasn't great but I was there.
"After I made that steps, being able to go from FC Groningen to Celtic was a big one because I played for one of the biggest clubs in the world that nobody really realises in my opinion. I didn't realise much before I joined but when I joined it was unbelievable.
"Playing Champions League in my first season; Barcelona, AC Milan, played against Ajax the year after in the Europa League. I won two league trophies, I won the cup trophy so all these things and the experience made me ready for the Premier League.
"It was just the right path that I took and it definitely helped me and shaped me who I am today because as you know experience is such a big thing especially for defenders, for centre halves and I feel like it only makes you better."
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