Jurgen Klopp shook the footballing world earlier this month when he revealed that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season. The German manager, over the years, has grown synonymous with the Merseyside club, even winning the UEFA Champions League with them in 2019.

Needless to say, Klopp has fought many a battle with Real Madrid during his tenure as the manager of Liverpool, both on as well as off the field. He has come out second-best more often than not, with the most recent example of the latter being the race for Jude Bellingham.

Liverpool and Real Madrid were the two primary options on Bellingham’s table before his transfer last summer. The player was determined to sign for Los Blancos, but that did not stop the Reds from making a serious effort to sign him.

Speaking in a recent interview, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, Jurgen Klopp admitted that Liverpool did indeed hold a strong interest in the English phenom.

“We were interested in Bellingham, but then we realized that it wouldn’t happen because we wouldn’t have money for anything else,” he said.

The German tactician then elaborated on why his side walked out of the race for the phenom, citing that their desperate need for a number 6 held them back.

“Then, suddenly, the entire market for numbers ‘6′ skyrocketed. We had our own situation with two ‘6’, who left the club. The market warmed up.”

Bellingham eventually signed for the Merengues in a deal worth €103 million, a figure that now appears to be a bargain.

Just over six months into his stint in Madrid, he has established himself as a regular starter under Carlo Ancelotti and appears set to take over as the team’s next talisman.