FORMER Celtic star Virgil van Dijk has been ditched from Southampton’s squad for their training camp in France.
The 26-year-old Dutch international cnetral defender has been training on his own after telling new boss Mauricio Pellegrino that he wants to leave the club.
Liverpool tried to sign £50million-rated Van Dijk earlier this summer, but dropped their interest after Saints reported them to the Premier League over an alleged illegal approach.
Despite ongoing speculation, Pellegrino maintained last week that Van Dijk is not for sale.
The incoming manager said: “He is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100 per cent.
“I need to work with players who are 100 per cent to defend Southampton. I don’t want to say too much, but we need the player.
“I want to help the squad, I want to help Virgil, but we need a player involved in every training session, not just with the body, but with the mind on the pitch with the rest of the players.”
Van Dijk, who cost £13million when he left the Hoops two years ago, made 55 Premier League appearances last season and has five years remaining on his contract.
