Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Lucas Leiva’s Liverpool exit left him tearful.
The former Brazil international secured a £5 million move to Lazio earlier this week following a decade of service in the first team ranks at Anfield.
Lucas proved to be a popular figure both within the dressing room as well as the club’s fan base during his 10 years with the Reds.
Klopp has admitted that parting with the 30-year-old proved highly emotional.
“Things change but Lucas is a special case. He asked for [to leave]. I would say he’s a friend. He’s a fantastic person,” he told ESPN.
“How I know and how he knows, he has a few issues when he’s not playing! But we always had a very respectful understanding.
“It was really good. When he left, we both had a little tear in our eye. It was really a special moment. For the team, it’s difficult. It’s the age and it’s life.
“He could sign a long-term contract in Rome and how can I say: ‘You stay here, but I don’t know if you sign a new contract and I don’t know how often you will play next year’.
“So you need to be honest, especially with a player like him. He loves Liverpool. It’s unbelievable. He comes from Brazil – it’s a nice country and the weather is much better.
“He could imagine staying in Liverpool for the rest of his life.”