European superstar pays utmost respect to Southampton with his recent gesture | OneFootball

European football's best centre-back Virgil Van Dijk is no stranger among Southampton fans. The Saints fondly recall his St. Mary's stay and Van Dijk's recent actions perfectly reflect that the latter also harbours a similar respect towards Southampton.

Being one of the most traditional English clubs, Southampton have largely enjoyed a good community culture. The Saints foster the values of respect and belongingness among their young setup which helps them maintain a long-term relationship with them even after their departure.

As a result, a good chunk of their iconic players return to the club's academy and some even take on a few coaching and management roles. Further, a select few like Adam Lallana also manage to fulfil their aspirations of concluding their playing career at St. Mary's.

Well, this doesn't mean that those who didn't do either of the two don't care about the Saints.

Virgil Van Dijk includes Southampton among European heavyweights

In this regard, Virgil Van Dijk's recent gesture will make every fan feel proud to have backed him during his Southampton days. The reason behind this cheerful moment is that the 33-year-old has welcomed Southampton's U13 team as one of the participants of his inaugural Virgil Legacy Trophy.

As quoted by the Daily Echo, Van Dijk spoke about the competition: "I feel strongly about inspiring others and want to give the next generation a proper platform to perform. The best pitches, facilities and officials."

Well, the Liverpool captain's humility and initiative are commendable. After all, the defender ranks among Europe's elite superstars and still took pride in acknowledging his Southampton roots.

Talking about the organized event, let's hope that Southampton players make the best use of this impressive chance. Finally, let's wish the best to Van Dijk and his Liverpool team regarding their silverware ambitions.