How “god-given talent” Jürgen Klopp is helping RB Leipzig close deals for new players

Having Jürgen Klopp on hand when you’re looking to bring in a new player can be invaluable, explains RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer, who says the former Liverpool manager has “a god-given talent”.

LEIPZIG (Bulinews): RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer has revealed how Jürgen Klopp is helping the club when it comes to signing coaches and players.

Klopp was appointed Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer a year ago, overseeing football development across the company’s multi-club network on several continents.

And as Schäfer explains, having the former Liverpool manager on hand can be invaluable when identifying and recruiting new coaches.

“We really appreciate his help and support, especially when it comes to signing a new head coach or coaching staff. You can’t find three people better than Jürgen Klopp when it comes to coaching expertise and planning the squad,” Schäfer told Bulinews.com during a media round in Leipzig. 

“He’s involved in these discussions and gives us all his support. During the transfer window we talked almost every day.”

“He has a god-given talent”

According to Schäfer, Klopp has natural gift for winning people over quickly – an ability that can prove crucial in negotiations with players.

“During the recruiting process, we have several conversations with the agent, sometimes with the family and with the player. And we all know that if Jürgen Klopp is in the room and talks to the families and players about our vision and project, it’s something unique, because he has a god-given talent that everyone knows from his coaching career,” said the Leipzig boss. 

“He can catch people in 5 to 10 minutes. And it’s not because he says something that’s not true. He simply has a god-given talent, expertise and huge experience.”

During the interview, Schäfer also revealed that Klopp played a key role in RB Leipzig’s move for 19-year-old wing wizard Yan Diomande last summer.

“We wanted the player, even if we had to pay a little more than many expected. We didn’t care, because it was an ideal situation. We were even in touch with Jürgen Klopp and Mario Gomez (Red Bull’s technical director), who saw the data and video clips, and everybody said ‘go, go, go,’” he said.

Bulinews.com also spoke with Jürgen Klopp in more detail about his role. Read that article here.