Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was candid in response when asked of the Reds' chances of snagging Lionel Messi out of Barcelona this summer. The Premier League-winning boss admitted there is “no chance” Liverpool can afford a player of that caliber, considering Barcelona is intent in forcing a €700 million payment to net his transfer.
Klopp spoke on Friday at a press conference to preview the Community Shield match against Arsenal. Asked if there was any interest in Lionel Messi, the boss was candid but succinct:
“Interest? Yeah, who doesn't want to have Messi in their team?,” said Klopp, according to Goal. “But no chance. The numbers are absolutely not for us, so we don't even have to start thinking about it! It is clear, there is no chance.
“But… good player, to be honest!”
Liverpool has been aggressively going after players like Thiago Alcantara and others to soup up their squad, but either paying that gargantuan transfer fee or the weekly wages of a player like Lionel Messi would be exorbitant and force the club to make drastic changes to afford him.
Only a handful of teams can afford Messi this summer, and unfortunately, Liverpool just isn't one of them.
Jurgen Klopp acknowledged that if Manchester City — who lead the sweepstakes for Lionel Messi — can get him, it would present a whole other challenge for Liverpool.
“It would obviously help Manchester City!” said Klopp. “It would make it even more difficult to beat them — and it was already very difficult.
“For the Premier League it would be great, 100 percent. Having, I think, the best player in the world come to the league would obviously help. I'm not sure the Premier League needs a boost, but it would be a boost. It would be interesting to see as well. Messi never played in another league than Spain. Football is different here, so I actually would like to see it. But I'm not sure if I will.”
Jurgen Klopp has risen to every challenge he's been posed since coming over to the Premier League. Perhaps beating Lionel Messi in the Premier League could be another feather in his cap, considering he won't be coaching him anytime soon.
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