Jurgen Klopp has a simple and emphatic message for Barcelona: ‘Read my lips, Philippe Coutinho is not for sale’, writes David Maddock in Munich.
The Liverpool manager had a bizarre exchange with a Spanish journalist in a press conference ahead of the Audi Cup, where he was asked about the “interpretation” of Barcelona’s pursuit of the Brazilian.
Speculation in Spain has feverishly suggested a deal is done between the midfielder and Catalan giants, with the media there convinced he will arrive in La Liga this summer.
But Klopp could not have been more dismissive or more certain when he made clear that Liverpool’s position has not changed and will NOT change, with the player going nowhere this summer.
The German coach looked almost bemused as he said: “Well, you formulated the question in a strange way. Where is the interpretation?
“The word ‘not’ means there is no interpretation for that. It’s nothing new, is it? He is not for sale. There is no interpretation at all. If you say he is available to be sold? I don’t understand that.”
Klopp was also asked about Liverpool’s pursuit of Naby Keita, but brushed over the suggestion they are considering one final bid beyond £70m for the RB Leipzig midfielder.
Instead, he chose to concentrate on the Audi Cup, where his side will play Bayern Munich here on Tuesday night, before meeting either Atletico Madrid or Napoli on Wednesday.
Klopp wants his side to hit the ground running this season, and he is looking for his young team to show their form in the Allianz Arena.
He has a fully fit squad, apart from an injury to defender Joe Gomez, who he described as “having a small niggle, nothing serious”.
* KLOPP dismissed recent reports in Germany that he was looking to sign Augsburg's Swiss keeper Marwin Hitz.
"No, we aren't in the running for him. He's a good goalie but we have enough good goalies," added the former Borussia Dortmund boss.