Jurgen Klopp has offered a heartfelt and revealing response to Mohamed Salah's Liverpool exit, lifting the lid on private conversations and long-standing transfer rumours as one of the club's greatest modern eras nears its conclusion.
The former Liverpool manager, speaking ahead of a legends match at Anfield, confirmed he had exchanged messages with Salah following the Egyptian's announcement that he will leave at the end of the season.
Klopp's tone was reflective rather than surprised, acknowledging both the inevitability of change and the scale of what Salah has achieved.
"I really hope he enjoys the rest of the season," Klopp said during an interview with The Anfield Wrap. "But I know Mo, he only enjoys football when he wins and scores.
"I just hope on the last matchday everybody is smiling and thankful for what they were part of."
Salah's departure will close a nine-year chapter that transformed Liverpool back into a global powerhouse.
Signed from Roma in 2017, he became the focal point of Klopp's attacking system, helping deliver a Premier League title, a Champions League crown, and a sustained period of dominance at the top level.
Klopp reflected on Salah's early days at the club, revealing that even the player himself had doubts about how he would fit into the team.
"When he arrived, he asked me where he would play," Klopp recalled. "I told him right wing, and he was concerned because of the players we already had. But look at what happened after that."
What followed was one of the most prolific spells in Liverpool history. Salah's goal return under Klopp exceeded 200, while his consistency and durability made him a cornerstone of the team's success.
"It was everything, a joy, a challenge, hard work from both sides," Klopp said. "The outcome was incredible.
"Honestly, I didn't think numbers like that were possible. Some of what he has done will be very difficult to repeat."
The German manager suggested that Salah's impact goes beyond statistics, pointing to his mentality and relentless drive to improve as defining traits of his success.
Klopp addresses the Brandt rumour
Alongside his tribute, Klopp also took the opportunity to dismiss a narrative that has followed Salah since his arrival, the claim that Liverpool initially preferred Julian Brandt.
"There's always this story that I wanted to sign Julian Brandt," Klopp said. "But when you are recruiting a winger, you speak to a number of players. Of course we spoke to him, but we also spoke to Mo."
He made it clear that Salah was not a fallback option.
"In that moment, we were convinced he was the right player," Klopp added. "More convinced than he probably was himself at the time."
The clarification ends years of debate among supporters about whether Liverpool's modern success might have taken a different path.
A farewell that marks the end of an era
As Salah prepares for his final months in a Liverpool shirt, Klopp believes his legacy will stand the test of time, even as new talents emerge.
"You can never say never in football, but replacing those numbers and that consistency won't be easy," Klopp admitted. "We might sit here in 10 years and talk about someone getting close, but it will be difficult."
For Liverpool fans, the focus now shifts to giving Salah the send-off his career deserves. For Klopp, the reflection is already clear, a partnership that delivered silverware, records, and unforgettable moments.
Salah may be preparing to move on, but his influence at Anfield, as Klopp made clear, will remain part of the club's identity for years to come.
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