Firmino: van Dijk is a “Really, Really High-Quality Player”

We’re all pretty eager to have van Dijk walk out onto the pitch in the snazziest Liverpool kit in decades, and the excitement bleeding out of the dressing room isn’t doing anything to help. Bobby Firmino—Anfield’s Favourite Brazilian—is the latest of van Dijk’s new teammates to gush about playing with the Dutch defender.

“He’s a really, really good defender,” Firmino told the club’s official website. “It’s always really hard playing against him. It’s very hard, he marks very tightly and I just think he’s a really, really high-quality player.”

“I think in addition to the fact he’s very physical, it’s his presence,” Firmino added, because he understands us and knows we want more. “He’s tall, he’s very strong and that’s in addition to his innate ability. I just hope he helps us as much as possible. I think like everybody else who comes in, they add something to the group and I hope that he can also do that and bring something to the team himself.

“I’m really looking forward to playing alongside him, of course. Obviously it’s great that he’s joined our team and now that he’s come with us of course I’ll welcome him in with open arms and I’ll look to make friends with him.”

I, for one, am looking forward to the beautiful pictures this friendship will beget. Oh, and also van Dijk debuting, I guess.