After Liverpool's transfer exit, Jurgen Klopp "will not accept" Takumi Minamino's theory.
Takumi Minamino will join Monaco after leaving Liverpool this summer, joining Divock Origi, Loris Karius, and Ben Woodburn. Takumi Minamino has left Liverpool for Monaco for a fee of around £15 million, including additional payments.
The Japan international won a Premier League winners medal in his first season with the Reds, but he struggled to get off to a good start and has left with manager Jurgen Klopp's best wishes. After joining Liverpool from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, he scored 14 goals in 54 appearances.
And Klopp has categorically denied that the move failed, declaring, "I don't accept that."
"I'm sure there will be those who believe it didn't work out" (at Liverpool). Those who believe this are mistaken. "I refuse to accept that," the manager stated. "A fantastic professional; a tremendously talented player." He is a person who exudes warmth and makes everyone around him feel good. To be honest, it's a manager's dream.
"In terms of starting matches, his contribution far outweighs the opportunities we were able to provide." Every day he was with us, he made us better - perfect attitude, winner's mentality. His contributions here will stand the test of time."
Minamino struggled to find first-team opportunities in the Premier League but excelled in cup competitions. In fact, the 27-year-old was the Reds' leading scorer in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, with seven goals. He also scored three goals in 11 league appearances and averaged a goal every 100 minutes in all competitions last season, the best record of any Liverpool player who reached double figures.
Minamino returned to Liverpool after spending the second half of the 2020/21 season on loan at Southampton, needing to show Klopp that he still had a role at the club. Although his chances in the Premier League were limited, Minamino made the most of his opportunities in the domestic cup competitions.
He scored twice in their 3-0 Carabao Cup Third Round win over Norwich City in September, and he followed that up with a goal against Preston North End in the last-16. Minamino's most important moment in a Reds shirt came in injury time against Leicester City, when he scored a dramatic late equalizer to force a penalty shootout.
After a 3-3 draw in normal time, Liverpool won the penalty shootout and went on to win the Carabao Cup after beating Arsenal in the semi-finals and defeating Chelsea at Wembley. Minamino played in both legs of the Gunners' victory, but was an unused substitute in the final.
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