Klopp dismisses Real Madrid, Atlético rumours as “Annoying” speculation
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Reports have fluctuated between claims of “advanced talks” with Atlético, admiration from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, and even suggestions that Klopp could be tempted back to the dugout only by one of the Spanish giants.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In a characteristically forthright interview, former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has poured cold water on the persistent speculation linking him with a sensational return to club management at either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid.
Speaking on Monday, Klopp expressed clear irritation with the ongoing rumours, stating bluntly: “The rumours about Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are annoying. No one called to open a negotiation. I’m sorry but they’d have to call before I can say anything. It didn’t happen.”
The comments, relayed via transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, come amid months of media chatter in Spain and beyond that have repeatedly positioned the 58-year-old German as a leading candidate for top jobs in Madrid.
Reports have fluctuated between claims of “advanced talks” with Atlético, admiration from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, and even suggestions that Klopp could be tempted back to the dugout only by one of the Spanish giants.
Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, had earlier dismissed links to Atlético as “stupid speculation.”
Klopp currently serves as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer, a strategic role overseeing the group’s football network, including RB Leipzig, Salzburg, and New York Red Bulls, under a contract that runs until 2029.
Since leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season after a trophy-laden nine-year spell, he has largely stayed away from day-to-day coaching, taking on punditry duties for the upcoming 2026 World Cup and advisory positions in German football.
The latest denial echoes previous statements from Klopp, who has repeatedly described much of the coverage as “complete nonsense” and emphasized that neither club has made any formal approach to him or his representatives.
In earlier interviews, he noted that while he remains open in principle to the right opportunity, he is content in his current position and would not rush back to the intense pressures of elite club management without a concrete offer.
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