Jurgen Klopp says ‘no chance’ Liverpool sign Lionel Messi despite ‘interest’ in departing Barcelona star

Champions might even have to watch as the Argentine forward joins Premier League rivals Manchester City

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp with Lionel Messi (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he would be interested in adding Barcelona captain Lionel Messi to his Premier League-winning squad, but a deal is out of the question due to the astronomical amount of money involved.

Messi stunned the football world earlier this week when he expressed his desire to leave Barcelona after nearly two decades with the Catalan club.

When asked if he would be happy to bring the Argentine forward to Anfield, Klopp said: “Interest? Yeah, who doesn’t want Messi in their team.

“But no chance. The numbers are absolutely not for us. But... good player.”

A study by French newspaper L’Equipe earlier this year reported that Messi earns €8.2million per month at Barca, much more than Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar, who earn €4.5m and €3m respectively.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are one of the favourites to sign six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who has won every major title available with Barcelona.

Some of Messi’s best moments on the Nou Camp pitch came under the guidance of former Barca coach Guardiola, whose City side finished 18 points behind Liverpool in a distant second place last season.

“It would make it even more difficult to beat them [City],” Klopp told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s Community Shield match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Wembley.

“For the Premier League, it would be great. I would like to see it, but I’m not sure if I will.”

Klopp confirmed centre-back Virgil van Dijk is fit to face Arsenal after recovering from a head injury sustained during Liverpool’s pre-season friendly with RB Salzburg.

“Virgil looks fine, he looks not good because he has the cut there, but apart from that it should be fine,” Klopp added.

Reuters