Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk admits he was well aware Premier League clubs had doubts about him at Celtic.
Before moving to the Reds for a then record 84m over 18 months ago, Southampton paid just 16m two for him and a half years previously.
He told France Football: I had to work hard for it. Even when I played at Celtic, the Premier League teams were extremely skeptical.
"They didn't want to take any risks because I was playing in Scotland. I got better and better, but it didn't have a clear effect. Everyone has their own destiny, their own way to travel.
"The path that I have followed belongs to me, I think I had to experience that."
On the Ballon d'Or, Van Dijk added: To be honest, I don't think about that. The reason is simple: it is an election that I have no influence on. There is nothing I can do to change my opinion about myself. The fact that I am seen as one of the candidates for the Ballon d'Or ensures that I can surpass myself."
