Jurgen Klopp had clearly had enough. Speaking at a Magenta TV press conference in Ismaning on Monday — where he was being introduced as a World Cup expert — the 58-year-old unloaded on the persistent rumours linking him to Real Madrid and the Germany national team.
"It's all just nonsense. They haven't called me once, not a single time. And they haven't called my agent either," Klopp said. He singled out Austrian outlet OE24 and the Salzburger Nachrichten by name: "The same idiots wrote that. You need to show a bit of discipline."
On Real Madrid specifically, he added with typical humour: "Has Real Madrid ever called me? Not once in my managerial career. I'll take over at Atlético Madrid as well, preferably at the same time. Sorry Madrid, you'll have to ring first!"
He was equally firm on replacing Germany's Julian Nagelsmann: "I'm not thinking about that at all at the moment. Who knows what the next few years will bring, but there are absolutely no plans."
The key caveat: Klopp did not slam the door permanently. "I am far from being at the end of my career as a coach. I haven't reached retirement age yet." His Red Bull contract runs until 2029.
