Jurgen Klopp’s journey from being an Arsenal reject to becoming a two-time Champions League winner and treble hero is nothing short of remarkable. After a failed trial with the Gunners, he rose to prominence at Borussia Dortmund and eventually took the reins at Liverpool, where his success speaks for itself. Now, with recent rumors linking him to a potential move to Atletico Madrid, Klopp could face his former Liverpool side in the knockout rounds of this season’s newly formatted Champions League—an epic reunion in the making.
From Arsenal Reject to Two-Time Champions League Winner and Treble Hero
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde has shared details of an unsuccessful trial at Arsenal in 2014 despite initially feeling comfortable in north London.
At 16, he was invited to Arsenal by Arsène Wenger and given a week to make an impression. During his time there, he trained alongside stars like Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, calling them ‘spectacular’ players.
In the end, Arsenal ‘snubbed’ Valverde, and he returned to his boyhood club, Penarol, in Uruguay. There, he made his first-team debut in August 2015, just a day after turning 17. The following summer, he was signed by Real Madrid, initially joining their youth team.
Valverde took his first steps in senior European football on loan at Deportivo La Coruna during the 2017/18 season. He returned to Real Madrid and made his first-team debut in October 2018.
Since then, Valverde has collected numerous trophies and become an important member of Carlo Ancelotti’s team. He was essential to the group’s unforgettable treble victory last season under the Italian coach.
At 26, Valverde has already won the Champions League twice, along with three La Liga titles, two Club World Cups, and six other trophies. He has also earned 66 caps for Uruguay.
Reflecting on his brief spell on trial at Arsenal, Valverde told Marca: “I was 16. [I thought] That’s it. This is my club. I’m going to grow here [at Arsenal].
“In Uruguay, the Premier League is watched a lot. I imagined a future there. I enjoyed it and trained with spectacular players.
“I don’t know if he’ll remember me, but Dibu [now-Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez] was one of the ones who helped me the most with everything, along with [Hector] Bellerin, Alexis and Cazorla.
“I didn’t know English – and they had to explain all the work to me. I was already competing with big people in the Uruguayan league. I felt I was ready for a higher step.”
Liverpool May Face Klopp Champions League Reunion
Jurgen Klopp could meet Liverpool in the Champions League after reports suggest he’s being linked to a new role with a European club.
Since leaving Liverpool at the end of last season, the former manager has taken on the role of global head of Red Bull’s football operations. He is in charge of the organization’s club network in this role, including RB Salzburg in Austria, RB Leipzig in Germany, and three other teams across North and South America.
There were reports suggesting that Klopp’s contract with Red Bull contained an exit clause allowing him to leave for the role of head coach of Germany. However, it is now claimed that such a clause is not part of the agreement.
It’s unclear whether the German manager will return to coaching, but recent reports from Spain have raised some eyebrows. Spanish outlet Relevo has linked the former Liverpool boss to a move to Atletico Madrid, where he is reported as ‘highly valued.’
Since Carlos Bucero was appointed director of football for the red and white team, reports have emerged suggesting that long-time manager Diego Simeone has ‘lost influence‘ at the club.
Klopp and Simeone have faced off four times, all in the Champions League. In the 2019/20 season, Atletico famously defeated Liverpool in the second leg of their round-of-16 tie, with three extra-time goals at Anfield sending the Reds out. However, Klopp’s side would go on to beat Atletico twice in the group stages two years later.
The Argentine manager is renowned for using every tactic at his disposal to defeat opponents. However, since winning La Liga in the 2020/21 season, he has failed to secure another trophy, despite spending approximately £170m this summer.
It’s unlikely that Klopp would be interested in diving straight into football with a team like Atletico. However, if it were to happen, he could end up facing his former Liverpool side in the knockout stages of this year’s newly formatted Champions League. What an incredible storyline that would be.
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