It might surprise football fans to discover that Virgil Van Dijk and Kevin De Bruyne, despite their fierce rivalry on the field, have formed a close friendship.
The Manchester City midfielder and Liverpool captain have become quite the holiday duo over the past few years, much to the delight of their followers.
So, how did these two players, who have never played on the same team and rarely have a chance to bond, become such good friends? It turns out their shared passion for dance and electronic music is the secret behind their unexpected friendship.
Both Van Dijk and De Bruyne are big fans of DJ Calvin Harris, and this shared interest has brought them together.
Their love for music was on full display this past weekend as they were spotted partying at Ushuaia Ibiza, a renowned venue in the party capital.
Scottish DJ Calvin Harris was performing, and he even shared a photo of himself with the footballers on Instagram, much to the excitement of his 11.4 million followers.
A Tradition of Holidays Together
This isn’t the first time the two have joined forces for a holiday.
Van Dijk and De Bruyne have been vacationing together in Ibiza since 2022.
Their tradition of watching Harris perform began that year, and they’ve continued to visit the island annually.
In 2023, they were again seen enjoying the Spanish island, this time alongside other Premier League stars like Nathan Ake and Marcus Rashford.
Behind the Friendship
In April 2022, after a match between their clubs, De Bruyne opened up about their off-field friendship.
He revealed that their children go to the same school and enjoy playing together, which has helped to foster their bond.
“I know Virgil… me and Virgil see each other a lot.
Our children go to the same school and they like to play together, so it was just a friendly chat,” De Bruyne shared.
So, while their on-field rivalry is intense, their off-field connection shows a different side of these football stars.