Virgil van Dijk's Cristiano Ronaldo snub could prove awkward after Liverpool transfer 'approach'

Virgil van Dijk is the latest Liverpool player to be linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. If the reports are to be believed, it could lead to an awkward encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spanish outlet Marca claims Van Dijk’s representatives met with Al-Nassr chiefs over a possible move this summer. The Saudi Pro League club is said to have made an offer that would make the Liverpool captain the highest-paid defender in the world.

The report comes as Van Dijk enters the final year on his contract with the Reds. The 32-year-old though has given no indication that he plans on leaving Anfield and Liverpool says it has had no contact with the Saudi club.

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Leny Yoro latest, Michael Olise talks, Luis Diaz deal 'possible'

READ MORE: Liverpool responds to Virgil van Dijk transfer rumors after 'record-breaking' offer

Were he to make the move to Al-Nassr though, he would be joining some huge names, including former Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane, and of course Ronaldo. Meeting the Portuguese superstar though would perhaps be a little awkward given Van Dijk’s previous comments.

Appearing on the The Rest Is Football podcast with Gary Lineker in April, Van Dijk was asked about his toughest opponents. The defender overlooked Ronaldo in favor of Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero.

"I would say Haaland is a very difficult opponent, [he is] very strong, a modern-day striker," he said. "It's the directness. If you give them an inch then they will punish you.

"It's the same with [Sergio] Aguero. He didn't score many goals against us, but since I played against him when I was at Southampton he was always a handful, he could finish with his left or right, you always had to be at your best.

"I remember one goal he scored against us in 2018/19, he came in front of Dejan Lovren from a cross and finished it so quickly."

Liverpool.com says: In fairness to Van Dijk, he does have a good record against Ronaldo. The pair have met each other five times over the years, and the Portuguese has never scored once, even if he has been on the winning team more times.

Of those five meetings, two came during Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United, when he was firmly past his peak. It’s probably fair to say then that Van Dijk never really came up against Ronaldo when he was at the peak of his powers. Even in that 2018 Champions League final, he was outshone by the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

Either way, hopefully Van Dijk won’t need to worry about meeting Ronaldo again. He’s still one of the best defenders in the Premier League, and Liverpool shouldn’t be entertaining the idea of selling him this summer.