Jurgen Klopp Reveals He Declined Manchester United Before Joining Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he chose not to accept an offer from Manchester United prior to taking up his position with Liverpool.

Meeting with Manchester United

During his tenure at Borussia Dortmund, Klopp engaged in discussions with officials from United regarding a potential move to Old Trafford.

Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp recounted meeting with United representatives following the sacking of David Moyes in 2014.

Klopp’s Reflections on the Meeting

“It’s complex. We weren’t in a confidential setting, but there were several aspects that didn’t sit well with me,” Klopp stated. “United projected this image of ‘we can acquire any player, we can take him, we can take him,’ and I found myself thinking, ‘really?'”

“The project they presented didn’t resonate with me; it wasn’t the right moment, and additionally, it didn’t align with my vision. The idea of re-signing (Paul) Pogba was put forward—he’s an extraordinary talent, but such plans typically don’t pan out.”

Key Players in Discussion

“Or the prospect of bringing back Cristiano (Ronaldo)—we all recognize he’s among the greatest, alongside (Lionel) Messi. Yet, going down that path then wasn’t beneficial either. In 2013, the focus seemed to be merely on assembling renowned players for a collective effort.”

“It felt disconnected from the essence of football. I realized that this wasn’t the right fit for me. Then, I had a very positive discussion with Mike Gordon, who is the president of Fenway Sports Group, and that was crucial for me.”

“He might be the owner, but after conversing with John (Henry) and Tom (Werner), I found myself wanting to befriend Mike. He was incredibly pleasant, and from that point on, everything felt quite special.”

Indeed, within a year, Klopp transitioned from his role as Red Bull’s global football chief to becoming the manager of Liverpool, succeeding Brendan Rodgers.