Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk admits he was well aware Premier League clubs had doubts about him at Celtic.

Before moving to the Reds for a then record €84m over 18 months ago, Southampton paid just €16m two for him and a half years previously.

He told France Football: “I had to work hard for it. Even when I played at Celtic, the Premier League teams were extremely skeptical.

"They didn't want to take any risks because I was playing in Scotland. I got better and better, but it didn't have a clear effect. Everyone has their own destiny, their own way to travel.

"The path that I have followed belongs to me, I think I had to experience that."

On the Ballon d'Or, Van Dijk added: “To be honest, I don't think about that. The reason is simple: it is an election that I have no influence on. There is nothing I can do to change my opinion about myself. The fact that I am seen as one of the candidates for the Ballon d'Or ensures that I can surpass myself."