The Jurgen Klopp statement related to Philippe Coutinho posted on the official Liverpool football club website is extremely candid and exceptionally honest. It is not the sort of rhetoric you typically see in prepared statements, which almost always rely on corporatespeak boiler plate.
Coutinho finally got his wish and moved to Barcelona, a move he’s wanted since July. The deal, made official yesterday, is the third most expensive transfer in world history. Klopp opened up about how Coutinho was insistent with him and the club about just how desperately he wanted this move.
Jurgen Klopp maintains that he did whatever he could to try and convince the Brazilian to stay, and once he realized that was not possible, made his peace with it. The german goes on to say that he wishes the attacking playmaker well.
“It is with great reluctance that we — as a team and club — prepare to say farewell to a good friend, a wonderful person and a fantastic player in Philippe Coutinho,” reads the statement attributed to Jurgen Klopp.
“It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known.
“Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates this was a move he was desperate to make happen. Despite that, we managed to keep the player here beyond the summer window, hoping that we would be able to persuade him to stay and be part of what we are looking to do.
“I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 per cent certain his future — and that of his family — belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.
“Philippe has made a fantastic contribution to this club over his five years of service and as disappointed as we are he doesn’t want to extend that, the relationship we have for him means with a heavy heart we wish him well.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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