Jurgen Klopp Hopes Mohamed Salah Stays At Liverpool

JAKARTA - Liverpool's former manager, Jurgen Klopp, said he hoped Mohamed Salah would stay at Anfield. He called the Egyptian the best striker the Reds had in modern times.

Mo Salah's contract will be completed by the end of the season with the 32-year-old saying in early January 2025 that he was far from a deal being reached.

"I hope he survives. (He) is the greatest striker Liverpool has in modern times."

"Obviously there are other great attackers, but he's a fantastic player, a fantastic human, extraordinary athlete, the best ambassador your country (Egypt) can have."

"Fantastic in all aspects. So, I hope he will stay at Liverpool," Klopp said when asked about Mo Salah's situation.

Klopp was in charge at Anfield when Mo Salah arrived from Rome in June 2017. The winger had a direct impact, scoring 44 goals in 52 games in all competitions in his first season at Merseyside.

Mohamed Salah is now exploring the possibility of moving to another club. One of the serious teams trying to get close to one is Al Hilal. The Saudi Arabian Pro League club included Mo Salah on the priority target list to replace the discarded Neymar.

Meanwhile, with Klopp, Mo Salah won many trophies, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and League Cup.

In January 2024, Klopp announced that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023/2024 season, before he announced his return to the world of football in October 2024 as Head of Global Football Red Bull.

"That's what I want to do. I quit seven months ago at Liverpool. I did it consciously."

"Beberapa bulan setelah itu, kesempatan datang. Saya tidak ingin menjadi penumpang atau orang terkemuka di ruangan itu."

"I really wanted to score on that occasion," he said.

Regardless of Mo Salah's surroundings, Klopp will not be involved in day-to-day operations, but will act as an advisor to Red Bull's clubs in Germany, the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Austria.

He will also support the organization's global operations and contribute to training and coaching.

"I've always wanted to try to learn new things. I immediately felt that that's what I wanted to do. It's a different role."

Klopp said he no longer wanted to work as a coach, having done so for more than 20 years.

"I don't want to do that anymore. I want to start a new one and this is an opportunity. To add value."

"How will the results be, we'll see. There is not a single plan that works for all teams. We want to be the best. In every department, in every club," said Klopp.

Red Bull owns clubs on various continents and stocks in Paris FC's second division club visited by Klopp a few days ago.

"I see myself as a good advisor and advisor is part of the decision."

"I am the most experienced person (in the organization). This is a fairly young team, so we are ready to move forward."

"Improving ourselves and doing that increases the number of people around us," Klopp said again.