Virgil Van Dijk recalls the horror of life-saving operation in 2012

Van Dijk wrote a will after a life-saving procedure

Virgil van Dijk has developed into one of the world's best defenders over the past few seasons. First impressing at Groningen, he earned a move to Celtic, before moving south of the border to Southampton, and then to Liverpool. But his footballing career, and his life, almost came to a premature end back in 2012 during his time at Groningen, when doctors had to perform an emergency procedure on the Dutchman. In an interview with FourFourTwo, Dick Lukkien - Groningen reserve coach at the time - has revealed how Van Dijk's apparently minor illness intensified to the point where he could have died. "Virgil was ill, but we didn't know the extent," he said. "At first we thought he had the flu." "He was at home for a few days and in lots of pain. He went to the local hospital but they couldn't find anything, so sent him back home again. "The pain got worse and when his mum travelled to see him, she realised how bad the situation was. "She took him to another hospital, which turned out to be crucial." Van Dijk was suffering from appendicitis, peritonitis and a kidney infection. Doctors conducted operation immediately. The player was ruled out of action for two months, missing the end of the season while he recovered. "I was shocked," Lukkien added. "When he returned to the club, he had changed from a big man into a shrivelled person. Luckily he managed to recover quite quickly." Van Dijk has since revealed that he feared the worst, and even wrote a will, not knowing what could unfold. "I still remember lying in that bed," he said. "The only thing I could see were tubes dangling out of me. My body was broken and I couldn't do anything. "At such a moment, the worst scenarios were whizzing around your head." "My life was at risk. My mum and I prayed to God and discussed possible scenarios. At some point I had to sign some papers. It was a kind of testament," he added. "If I died, a part of my money would go to my mum. Of course, nobody wanted to talk about it, but we had to do that. "It could have been over."