Kevin De Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk have been rivals for years – but only on the pitch.
Reports emerged on Wednesday night that Liverpool were considering a sensational swoop for the departing Man City star, although talkSPORT understands these are wide of the mark.
However, there was a time when Reds captain Van Dijk – and De Bruyne himself – were desperate to make this happen.
The two have formed a strong friendship despite Liverpool and Manchester City‘s fierce battles for Premier League titles.
The Belgian has on multiple occasions confessed he grew up as a Liverpool fan and Van Dijk has revealed how badly he wants to play alongside De Bruyne.
“My favorite club is Liverpool and my favorite player is Michael Owen,” an 11-year-old De Bruyne admitted in old video footage. “And I would love to play there one day.”
In an interview with Match of the Day magazine in 2019, he said: “I was a Liverpool fan. My family that live in England were all Liverpool supporters so I was, too.
“I loved Michael Owen, because I was really small like him and quick, too. I compared myself to him at the time.”
In 2022, after a 2-2 draw the Man City talisman let it slip that he sees the Liverpool defender ‘a lot’.
One reason being that their children go to the same school.
They also seem to bond over their admiration for electronic music, as they have been pictured partying in Ibiza, meeting up with DJ Calvin Harris on the Balearic Island.
Speaking with Gary Neville on The Overlap that same year, Van Dijk chose De Bruyne as the one rival player he wanted to have in his team.
A year later the two were seen on holiday alongside Nathan Ake who is Van Dijk’s Dutch teammate and De Bruyne’s club colleague.
And in 2024, De Bruyne returned the favour stating that he wants to play with Van Dijk, who has ‘everything’.
Both were scheduled for their contracts to run out this summer at their respective clubs.
Van Dijk signed a two year contract with Liverpool worth up to £400,000, while De Bruyne was allowed to leave the Etihad.
The Belgian is arguably Man City’s best ever player, having won six Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League, during his ten years at the club.
De Bruyne could add another FA Cup to the pile if his side beat Crystal Palace later this month.
In 418 appearances, he has netted 108 goals and assisted 177.
He also refused to rule out a move to another Premier League club so it would not be impossible for Liverpool to sign the 33-year-old.
However, talkSPORT understands it is far from likely to happen.
