After leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, citing a lack of energy and ensuring fans that he wouldn’t manage another club, many thought we wouldn’t see Jurgen Klopp in the headlines for a while.
But just last week, it was announced that he’s back, and is set to start work for energy drink giant Red Bull as their Head of Global Football, overseeing the brand’s different clubs.
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The move has proved deeply controversial, as some fans feel he has abandoned their understanding of him being a traditionalist.
Others claim he has ‘sold out’ for the money, while those with an attachment to Borussia Dortmund feel betrayed that he is working with a rival team.
His work in the role is not set to commence until January 2025, with Klopp himself claiming he will be on holiday until the time comes in an announcement he posted on Instagram.
However, reports have already surfaced around a potential addition to the Red Bull model, with their stake in Leeds United potentially increasing to full-blown ownership or a dramatic redevelopment of second-tier French side Paris FC.
And in a new report from El Nacional, via FussballEuropa, Klopp is already working on moves behind the scenes, with four players being headhunted from Barcelona for transfers to the franchise.
Klopp going shopping in Barcelona
Aleix Garrido, Alex Valle, Dani Rodriguez and Noah Darvich are all names reported to have been the topic of discussion in a two-hour meeting that Klopp had with Deco – Barcelona’s sporting director.
Klopp spoke of his excitement to develop an expanse of young players at Red Bull as one of the main reasons he took the job, so it is not surprising to see reports that some of Barca’s talents are on the shortlist.
While Liverpool will be hoping their former manager leaves their stock of talents well alone, the club did send Stefan Bajcetic on loan to RB Salzburg under the management of former assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders – who is finding life in Austria a bit tricky after discontent amongst the fan base and disappointing results and performances.
Knowing that Klopp will be overseeing the Spaniard’s development is certainly positive news, although, given the new brief that Klopp is following, it is unlikely that he will be sending fresh young players to Merseyside as some fans might have hoped.
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