Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has explained his decision in turning down Jurgen Klopp back in 2018, when the manager wished to bring him to Liverpool.
Goretzka had been at Schalke since 2013 and decided to end his stay after five years for the Bundesliga giants - but he seemingly had an offer to make a switch to the Premier League outfit with the Reds.
Klopp was familiar with the then 23-year-old and his talents, having come up against him in the German league while in charge at Borussia Dortmund. It was no surprise that on becoming available, the LFC boss would be interested in acquiring his services.
In an interview with The Athletic, Goretzka admits there was a 'consideration' over an Anfield move amid strong interest in the skilled box-to-box midfielder on Merseyside.
He also admitted his admiration for Jurgen Klopp, his fellow countryman, and his success found at Liverpool but despite missing out on being part of a squad that has become European, World and English champions, he has no regrets.
He said: “They were a consideration, of course. They’re a great club, and their development since Kloppo came has been amazing.
"We’re all a little proud of him winning the title. But I took a long time making my decision, and I was 100 per cent sure that Bayern was the right move for me.”
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The Reds would lift the Champions League a little over a year after Goretzka made his decision to run out his contract with Schalke and move to Munich on a free transfer. Although he would only have to wait one more season for his own chance to lift the trophy with his new German side.
Now 25, the midfielder has won pretty much every trophy he possibly could with Bayern and is halfway through his initial contract he signed two years ago. No doubt the rumour mill will start throwing his name up in the air as he approaches his final year if no contract extension materialises.
Klopp made several signings in the same summer Goretzka would officially join Bayern Munich - and they were key to his side's eventual league success.
Xherdan Shaqiri joined from a relegated Stoke City for around £13m followed by goalkeeper Alisson Becker from Roma for a then world record fee of just under £70m. Fabinho had already been secured from Monaco back in May, with Naby Keita arriving too as part of the deal agreed in 2017.
