Photo: photonews
The world of esports talks a lot to youth and it is attractive to brands. Therefore, the investors, sometimes outside the middle, are not lacking. However, we never know if their interest in the competition is frank, or if it is mainly interested, to drain the public and possibly money.
The future will tell us in which category is placed Virgil Van Djik. The Liverpool defender is a football heavyweight. On the field, his imposing physique allows him to be respected and he is a central defender who imposes. He regularly wears the captain’s armband at Liverpool, and he’s also worth several million in the transfer market. Its market value is estimated at 55 million euros (Transfermark) and it is estimated at more than 13 million his annual salary. So he has enough assets to indulge himself and he decided to use his funds and his image to become co-owner of a structure while serving of ambassador. His playing style is less elegant than a David Beckham, but he can do better than the former England international who has some difficulty in growing Guild Esports.
A Red in the Tundra
The footballer joins the British structure Tundra Esports. Founded in 2019, it is involved in several games (FIFA, Fortnite, DotA 2…). The latter was notably present at the Major ESL One Stockholm 2022, won by OG and the eternal Ceb. Tundra was not unworthy and took 3rd place. On FIFA, we could see the structure at the FIFAe World Cup 2022. One of its representatives, lady finished in 21st/24th place in the tournament. On Fortnite, the team missed the great years of Battle Royale and landed on the scene this year. It relies on two young English players born in 2004: Veno and Pinq.
According to the organization, Van Djik has been a gamer since childhood (he is 31 today). He notably plays FIFA and Fortnite, which makes him “a natural partner” in the project. The notion of co-owner is quite vague in esports, but it now owns shares of the structure. He will also use his image and networks to promote Tundra Esports as a as ambassador. Obviously, the organization is rubbing its hands.
Van Djik, a great career
We take this opportunity to honor Van Djik, the footballer. Dutch international, he has 47 caps with his country and is the current captain. In club, he was trained in Groningen before being discovered in Southampton and exploding in the eyes of the general public in Liverpool, a legendary football club. On the man and rough, he has been one of the best defenders in the world for several years. In 2019, he finished in 2nd place in the Ballon d’Or rankings, just behind Lionel Messi. A capital performance for a contest that struggles to reward defensively oriented players.
At the level of the prize lists, it notably counts:
- A Premier League title (2019-2020)
- A Champions League (2018-2019)
- A UEFA Super Cup (2019)
- A Club World Cup (2019)
- A Community Shield (2022)