Jurgen Klopp discovered £39m transfer target on YouTube
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp discovered a £39 million transfer target on YouTube and was convinced to open negotiations.
Liverpool are generally regarded as being at the forefront of recruitment and scouting, but this story breaks that trend and presents the club in an entirely different light.
The era of data analysts and clever recruitment are upon us, but it appears as if Jurgen Klopp used a completely different method to try and spot a potential star and a massive summer transfer.
You wouldn’t think that an outfit the size of this one would be forced to watch YouTube compilation clips in order to scout new areas, but that’s exactly what the player’s agent has said has happened.
It was two years ago and before Liverpool had won silverware under Jurgen Klopp, but his project was just about to start and come good.
2018 was the year Alisson, Naby Keita and Fabinho were signed, just six months after Virgil van Dijk came into the squad from Southampton. That year could be said as the one that changed the trajectory of Liverpool under Klopp but the side nearly added one other to that illustrious list.
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Because Brazilian starlet Rodrygo was first scouted by Liverpool and could have joined the side if things were different.
Goal has reported that Klopp met with his agent Nick Arcuri said they met in London after searching YouTube for the next biggest Brazilian star.
A video of Rodrygo came up, and the rest was nearly history.
“Klopp already knew the player, had seen the material, had already come to see Rodrygo personally.
“He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘talents from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil, and liked him.”
However, Santos didn’t want to do a deal before the starlet signed professional terms and he was persuaded to stay with his local side before moving to Europe.
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He went on to play 49 times for Santos before Real Madrid spent £39 million to bring him to La Liga. He’s since played 18 times for Madrid, scoring seven goals.
But it’s still remarkable that Liverpool came up with Rodrygo as a talent by finding him on YouTube.