Former Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe has opened up on his relationship with ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp after leaving Anfield in 2016.
Jordan Ibe left Liverpool to join Bournemouth in 2016 (Image: PA)
Former Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe has criticised ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp. Making his debut as a teenager with Wycombe Wanderers, Ibe scored his first professional goal at just 15 before being snapped up by Liverpool in a £500k deal in December 2011.
After progressing through the academy, he made his Reds debut on the final day of the 2012/13 Premier League season, setting up Philippe Coutinho for the only goal of the game against Queens Park Rangers – all this while still only 17 years-old.
Following successful loan spells at Birmingham City and Derby County during the 2013/14 and 2014/15 seasons, Brendan Rodgers recalled the forward to become a regular in the Liverpool first-team squad.
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest star’s hilarious Mohamed Salah new Liverpool contract reaction speaks volumesREAD MORE: Nottingham Forest could be without four key players for Everton as Nuno admits struggle
However, after Klopp’s first season in 2015/16, where he made 41 appearances and netted four goals, Ibe was sold to AFC Bournemouth in a £15million deal.
Despite a buyback clause included in the transfer, Liverpool never came close to activating it as Ibe struggled to find his form with the Cherries.
Ibe has now had his say on the circumstances behind his Liverpool exit in an interview with The Sports Agents podcast. “He [Klopp] came in, and obviously, he’s gonna want to have his own players,” he said.
“We had a conversation, and it was good at first, but I don’t really think he honoured it. Young players, I’ve noticed, or even players in general, they’ll hear something from their manager or whoever, and they’ll be scared to ruin their manager’s reputation.
Jordon Ibe and Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool training in 2016(Image: Getty Images)
“The conversations that we had when he first came because he was really happy with how I was playing because I was either starting a game or, if I was not starting, I was the first on.
“He always had this thing of when I was playing well, he would slap the back of my head. He was really happy with me and wanted me to take this into the new season, and then that changed because they signed a new player and we weren’t the same story then.”
When asked if he tried to have another conversation over his Liverpool future, Ibe added: “I did, but the response was ‘I think it’s best you leave.'”
The best LFC news, features, videos and podcasts
Nobody covers Liverpool Football Club in more detail than the ECHO. Our team of reporters follows the Reds home, away and abroad and we have seven days a week coverage of everything from the first team, to the women’s team and the Academy.
Here’s how you can get the best LFC news on every platform:
Download our premium LFC App for exclusive content and ad-free reading. Apple here and Android here.
Follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Our Blood Red brand is one of the top rated LFC podcasts. You can watch it on Youtube here or search Blood Red podcasts wherever you listen. We’re also on TikTok.
Join our WhatsApp community for breaking news directly to your phone as it happens and follow our WhatsApp channel for updates and the best pictures.
Subscribe to our newsletters here for all the news directly to your inbox.
Subscribe to Dave Powell’s Bottom Line newsletter for exclusive business of football news, features and interviews directly to your inbox.
Follow us on every platform here.