Jurgen Klopp: I did reject Manchester United, and I wouldn't have re-signed Paul Pogba or Cristiano Ronaldo

Jurgen Klopp has revealed on The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steve Bartlett that he would have opposed the re-signings of Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo had he taken charge at Man Utd. The former Liverpool manager also confirmed he rejected the opportunity to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford during his tenure with Borussia Dortmund and says a return to Anfield "is possible".

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he would not have sanctioned the returns of Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo had he been appointed Manchester United manager.

The former Liverpool boss admitted he turned down talks to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford while still in charge of Borussia Dortmund.

During his appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast with Steve Bartlett on Monday, Klopp was asked about United’s post-Ferguson transfer strategy.

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Manchester United spent heavily on a host of high-profile signings who ultimately failed to make a lasting impact at Old Trafford - including Angel Di Maria, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Sanchez.

Jurgen Klopp is now Head of Global Soccer at Red Bull

Image credit: Getty Images

The club also showed a willingness to re-sign former stars, with Pogba returning for a then-record £89 million in 2016 and Ronaldo making a highly anticipated comeback in 2021.

Klopp was asked if he would have approved such lavish signings had he taken the job - and the German was unequivocal in his response.

Speaking on the podcast, he said: "I didn’t want to bring back Pogba. He was a sensational player, but these things don’t usually work. Or Cristiano - we all know he’s the best player, together with [Lionel] Messi, in the world. But bringing players back never helps.

"In 2013, it wasn’t about Cristiano - maybe about Paul, I’m not even sure - but the idea was: we bring the best players together and then, let’s go."

Paul Pogba is now at AS Monaco

Image credit: Getty Images

Klopp went on to explain he had been holding out for what he described as a "pure football project," which ultimately came in the form of Liverpool’s offer to replace Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.

Reflecting on the approach from United in 2013, Klopp said: "In the year when Sir Alex retired, they spoke to me. Of course, they were interested. At that time, I would’ve been interested - I was young, I had a sensational team at Dortmund. They probably thought, ‘What is he doing there?’

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"Later on, I heard my players - James Milner and Adam Lallana - had flown to Real Madrid when we [Dortmund] had a semi-final there in the Champions League, just to watch us play. I mean, you can’t get a bigger compliment.

"United tried [to approach me]. It was the wrong time, wrong moment. I had a contract at Dortmund and wouldn’t have left for anybody.

"There were some things in the conversations [with United] that I didn’t like. The idea was that big - ‘We get all the players we want’ - and I was sitting there thinking, this is not my project."

Klopp has not ruled out a return to Liverpool

Image credit: SID

Klopp: Liverpool return "possible"

Klopp has since joined Red Bull as Head of Global Soccer after leaving Liverpool last year following nine highly successful seasons.

At the time, he cited "running out of energy" as the reason behind his departure. While reiterating that he does not currently intend to return to management, the 58-year-old left the door open for a future reunion with Liverpool.

"I said I will never coach a different team in England. So that means, if [I return], it’s Liverpool," Klopp said.

"So yeah, theoretically, it’s possible. I love what I do right now - I don’t miss coaching. I don’t. I mean, I do coach, just differently - not players.

"I don’t miss standing in the rain for two-and-a-half, three hours. I don’t miss going to press conferences three times a week, having 10-12 interviews a week. I don’t miss that.

"I’ve coached 1,080-something games. I’ve been in dressing rooms very, very often.

"I’m 58 - that’s old from one perspective, not that old from another. I could make a decision in a few years. If I had to decide today, I wouldn’t coach again. But thank God I don’t have to - we’ll see what the future brings."

Klopp defends Slot's first losing streak

Arne Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League title in his first season, but is currently enduring the first four-match losing streak of his managerial career.

The Dutchman is navigating a difficult patch, and Klopp’s comments have arrived at an awkward time - though the German was quick to praise his successor.

Slot: Liverpool have not lost confidence yet amid losing run

Video credit: SNTV

Reflecting on the transition in the summer of 2024, Klopp said: "We had a lot of contact after that. He’s a super good guy. He got the best out of this team, and they became champions in an incredible manner.

"It’s not about Arne showing the world what he can do - it’s about getting the best out of the team. That’s exactly what he did.

"Change always has an impact. And change always needs time.

"If he keeps the exact same team as last season - Darwin Nunez still there, Luis Diaz still there, for example - they start playing and have problems, [people say] ‘We need change.’

"Now the new guys are there, and they are really good players. It’s just not working out at the minute. Development needs time. Nobody can change that. People need time to adapt. It’s all good."

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