Mario Gotze believes he “missed a special journey” after turning down a potential move to Premier League heavyweights Liverpool in 2016.
Germany’s 2014 World Cup hero rose to fame under Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund as one of football’s brightest prospects, before enduring an injury-laden spell at Bayern Munich.
Gotze had an opportunity to reunite with Klopp at Liverpool in 2016 but the Reds’ transitional phase under his former Dortmund manager led him to opt for a return to the Signal Iduna Park instead.
In an interview with The Players’ Tribune, titled A Letter to My Children, Gotze revealed that he had visited Liverpool and met with Klopp to discuss the potential transfer.
However, he admitted he was swayed by Liverpool’s then-current state and the immediate prospect of playing in the Champions League elsewhere.
“I also wish I had been a little more patient,” Gotze recalled. “I’ll give you an example. In 2016, I nearly went to a famous team in England called Liverpool. The coach there was a man named Jurgen Klopp.
“Maybe you have seen pictures of him? Tall, big smile, very funny. Jurgen had been my coach at Dortmund, and I did not realise how lucky I was to have him.
“I went to his house in Liverpool, where we sat down together in the living room with our wives. What makes Jürgen special is that he sees Mario the person. We did not talk much about football. He wasn’t saying, “How can I convince you? What do you want?”
“He asked me about life in general, and I think he said something like, ‘Look, Mario, you’ll play a lot, and you’ll have fun here. I know that’s the most important thing for you. The club is amazing. Have a think about it’.
“I really wanted to play for him again.”
Gotze went on to reveal that his desire for immediate success also influenced his eventual decision to return to Dortmund:
“I also wanted to win things right away. I was so impatient! Liverpool had just finished eighth in England, and Dortmund had come second in Germany. Dortmund had also signed Andre Schurrle, one of my best friends in football.
“I remembered how much fun it had been the first time, when we won two league titles and made it to the Champions League final. Maybe things would be like in the good old days, you know?
“So I went back. And as much as I love Dortmund, I do feel that I missed out on a special journey with Jurgen. I didn’t understand that he needed time to build a great team at Liverpool. There was not really any need for me to play in the Champions League right away. I just didn’t think that far ahead.”
Liverpool went on to enjoy great success under Klopp, breaking their 30-year wait for a Premier League crown. They also reached back to back Champions League finals, doing well to lift Europe’s biggest trophy at the second time of asking.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
