Jürgen Klopp reveals the player who urged him to sign Diogo Jota.

Jürgen Klopp has spoken with striking honesty about the passing of Diogo Jota, describing the loss of the Liverpool forward as feeling “exactly like losing a family member.” The former Reds boss recalled the moment he heard the tragic news, admitting he was left speechless and devastated — a testament to how deeply Jota had touched everyone within the club.

Jota, who arrived from Wolves in 2020, quickly became one of Klopp’s most trusted players, netting 65 goals in 182 games, lifting both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and playing a key role in Liverpool’s run to the 2022 Champions League final. Since his death in July, tributes have poured in, praising his professionalism, tactical intelligence, and knack for delivering in big moments — attributes Klopp said could never be replaced.

In the same discussion, Klopp shed light on how Jota’s transfer came about, crediting internal belief and — as widely circulated clips confirm — Mohamed Salah’s influence. As Klopp put it: “It’s true that it was Mo Salah who tried to convince me to sign Diogo Jota.”

Now working as head of football operations across the Red Bull network, Klopp said he’s content away from the dugout but hinted that a future return to Liverpool isn’t off the table. He ruled out managing any other English club and described an Anfield comeback as “theoretically possible.”

Beyond the numbers, Klopp’s tribute portrayed Jota as a “very special young man” who united those around him. For fans and former teammates still mourning, his message was unmistakable: Jota’s legacy lives on not just through goals and trophies, but through his spirit, humility, and the bonds he forged — a void, Klopp admitted, that football can never truly fill.

NEW: Klopp: “It’s true that it was Mo Salah who tried to convince me to sign Diogo Jota.”