Liverpool supporters have reacted on Twitter to Jurgen Klopp’s claim that Joel Matip won’t be returning to international football.
German-born Matip has represented Cameroon on 27 occasions during his career, but he hasn’t put on the colours of his country since 2015.
Albeit there is talk that it might not go ahead, but the Africa Cup of Nations is due to kick off next month in Cameroon.
Mo Salah and Sadio Mane are expected to present their respective countries, as talk has also surfaced about Matip possibly featuring too.
But during his pre-match news conference, Klopp debunked all that talk:
“Yes (I have spoken to him),” said Klopp. “And, no he doesn’t consider (a return). When I spoke to him I asked him and he said ‘no’. That’s one of the news out there in the world where there is nothing behind it. Let me say it like this.”
Liverpool fans are understandably delighted at this news because it’s one less headache for them to deal with.
If the tournament does go ahead, and at this moment in time it is regardless of the noise, then they will lose two of their star men.
International football is a problem for domestic managers on the best of days anyway.
Only last season, after Virgil van Dijk’s long-term injury, Joe Gomez suffered a season-ending injury himself whilst on duty with England.
Then Matip followed suit in January, which just caused havoc on Liverpool’s season, before they could recover towards the back end of the campaign.
But it seems as though, according to Klopp, that Matip is satisfied without any national football.
He just turned 30 in August, so he is at the peak of his powers and he is probably thinking of prolonging that by just playing for the Reds.
Here is a selection of Liverpool fans reacting to what they are hearing about Matip:
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