Van Dijk says ex-player pundits failing 'duty of responsibility' to young players

Martin Macdonald

• 7 Feb 2026 03:01 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

Virgil van Dijk believes that footballers-turned-pundits need to think more carefully about what they say in the media, particularly when it comes to younger players.

Footballers versus pundits has become more of a trend over the last few years due to the increase of football-centric content online, like podcasts.

Recently, former Manchester United stars Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes had a rift with current defender Lautaro Martinez after Butt suggested Manchester City forward Erling Haaland would carry the Argentine about "like a toddler" in the Manchester derby, which the Red Devils actually went on to win.

Van Dijk, too, had a high-profile spat with Wayne Rooney, who believed that Liverpool's poor form earlier in the campaign was due to a lack of leadership on the pitch. The Dutchman called the claims "lazy criticism", and there was an awkward moment later in the campaign when Van Dijk brought up the comments while pitchside alongside Rooney.

Is Virgil van Dijk trying to send a message to his team-mates?@WayneRooney believes the Liverpool captain is unhappy with the standards in the side right now. 🤔#MOTD pic.twitter.com/cYZW5RSYXb

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) November 22, 2025

For good and bad, social media has completely changed how football has analysed and that means players are under a lot more scrutiny than ever before.

With that in mind, Van Dijk believes former players, now pundits, have a "duty of responsibility" to younger players who are entrenched in social media.

"I feel like the ex-top players have a responsibility to the new generation," he said in an interview with Gary Neville.

"Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way.

"But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for the mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media.

"You can say, 'yeah, you shouldn't be on social media' - that's what I've mentioned [to them] loads of times.

"There is always this thing of when you play a good game, younger players check all the positive praises, but when you have a worse game, and you're getting bullied all over social media, or you're getting bad criticism, it can really affect you.

Wayne Rooney says he has "full respect" for Virgil van Dijk but sticks by his comments criticising Liverpool's early season performances. 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/s2KtrYhHaq

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 3, 2025

"I've seen that in certain players in the past, and currently as well, because it's just not easy.

"It's going to get worse and worse, because the platforms nowadays, with the clickbait and the headlines, everyone is on it constantly.

"I feel like especially the ex-pros, top players, who have been through everything as well, they have this responsibility of protecting a little bit of that side as well.

"That's something maybe to look at."

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