Eighteen months after leaving Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp is still the subject of speculation at Real Madrid. The German coach is not yet ready to return to management, but he has not completely closed the door on a move to the Bernabéu.
Jürgen Klopp responded to rumours linking him with Real Madrid a few days after Xabi Alonso was sacked. With the Bernabéu opting to temporarily rely on Álvaro Arbeloa, the name of the former Liverpool manager has once again been circulating around the Santiago Bernabéu.
A door closed… for now
When questioned by AS, the German sought to calm the speculation, leaving no ambiguity about his current state of mind. ‘I am in a situation where I feel completely at peace internally, where I want to be. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. For now, I would say no, but you should never say never. I don’t think I will change my mind, but you never know.’
Since leaving Liverpool, Klopp has deliberately distanced himself from the gruelling pace of the touchline. Now global football director for the Red Bull group, he occupies a strategic role, far from the repetitive press conferences and daily pressure that he himself acknowledged as burdensome at the end of his time at Anfield.
Real Madrid, a challenge incompatible with his new life
In theory, Real Madrid represents the pinnacle for any football fan. A top-level squad, global exposure and the opportunity to make history at a club with a winning culture that is unique in the world. But this setting also comes with a ruthless environment, not conducive to the patience and sporting control that Klopp has always demanded in his previous experiences.
At this stage in his career, the equation seems unbalanced. The coach is coming off nine seasons of maximum intensity, is seeking personal peace and seems more attracted to projects with a different time frame. With this in mind, a return to the bench could one day be envisaged, but without urgency and probably in a setting more compatible with his current pace, such as the national team, rather than the constant hustle and bustle of the Bernabéu.
