Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, on Tuesday, expressed his hope that Mohamed Salah will sign a new contract to stay at Anfield after the end of the current season. Klopp responded to a question about Salah from an Egyptian journalist: “I hope he stays. He is a wonderful player, a wonderful person, an outstanding athlete, and the best ambassador you can have for your country. So I hope he stays at Liverpool.” During a press conference in Austria.
Klopp was speaking when revealing his appointment as head of global football at Red Bull, a role in which he will oversee the energy drinks group’s football empire.
The German begins his career in this position after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, after nearly nine years as the club’s technical director.
Red Bull controls clubs in several countries around the world, including RB Leipzig in Germany, Klopp’s home country, while it recently acquired a minority stake in French second-tier club Paris FC.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have enjoyed a smooth transition to life without Klopp, sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League and top of the Champions League standings under his successor Arne Slott.
Klopp reiterated that he felt that this was the right time to step down from Anfield, and said that he would not miss the daily work of running the club.
“I’m more than happy not to be there,” he said.
“It’s really great that they are doing so well, I wish them all the best. I watch as many matches as I can.
“It’s fantastic football. Even if you’re not supporting Liverpool now, you’d better watch them because it’s really high-quality football, probably the best balanced in the world right now.”
The former Borussia Dortmund coach added that he hopes Salah’s fellow stars Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will also opt to extend their contracts, which expire at the end of the season as well.
“I’m so glad I’m not in charge of this situation, where I have to answer these questions,” he sighed.
“From my point of view, I would like all three to extend their contracts, but I don’t know, they haven’t told me that.”
When asked if he could try to sign any of them for the Red Bull empire, which includes Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls, he replied with a touch of sarcasm:
“Oh yeah, I’m sure Virgil would like to spend another five years at Liverpool and then play 41-44 with the New York Red Bulls because he probably underestimates American soccer.
“Mo, yes I would like to, but I don’t think we have a chance to pay him to be honest.
“I’m really glad I’m no longer a part of it.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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