Jürgen Klopp, now global football chief for Red Bull, has recently revealed the reasons behind his decision to reject Manchester United prior to accepting the Liverpool job. In an interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Klopp admitted that he met with Manchester United officials after David Moyes' dismissal in 2014. While his contract with Borussia Dortmund provided a convenient reason to decline the Red Devils' offer, Klopp has now shared that the overriding factor was his reservations about the club's project and the individuals involved.

Klopp stated that Manchester United's approach at the time, which centered around acquiring numerous high-profile players, did not resonate with him. He described the club's strategy as "we get all the players we want, we get him, we get him, we get him," which left him feeling detached from the project. He elaborated that it "was not my project," and the timing wasn't right. Klopp also said that he "didn't like" some of the people involved in the conversation.

Specifically, Klopp felt uneasy about the prospect of bringing back players like Paul Pogba or Cristiano Ronaldo, despite acknowledging their talent. He said that bringing Ronaldo back "never helps". His vision differed significantly from what was presented by Manchester United, which he characterized as simply bringing the best players together without a cohesive plan.

Klopp contrasted his experience with Manchester United with his subsequent discussions with Liverpool. He had a "sensational talk" with Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group. He said that after the talk with Gordon and also John Henry and Tom Werner, he "wanted to be Mike's friend, he was such a nice guy. After that, it was pretty special". Klopp was drawn to Liverpool's "pure football project" and the balance they struck between financial investment and the club's history and identity.

Robbie Fowler, a Liverpool icon, has previously stated that Klopp turned down other wealthy clubs, including Real Madrid, because he disliked their overwhelming focus on commercial aspects. Klopp favored Liverpool's blend of financial resources and the club's deep-rooted traditions and fan base.

Ultimately, Klopp's decision proved to be a resounding success for Liverpool. He guided the club to their first Premier League title in 30 years and secured a sixth Champions League trophy during his tenure. In contrast, Manchester United struggled to find stability and success in the years following Klopp's rejection.