Liverpool and Bayern Munich tried to sign me, says Kruse

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Liverpool and Bayern Munich had a serious interest in signing Germany international attacker Max Kruse, the player has claimed.

Kruse was a free agent in 2019 when his Werder Bremen contract expired. He had just enjoyed a successful campaign in which he scored 11 Bundesliga goals in 32 matches.

Liverpool and Bayern Munich were among the clubs who made enquiries for the free agent, but ultimately he would move to Fenerbahce. He had one campaign in Turkey before switching back to Germany’s top flight with Union Berlin, where he has scored six goals and laid on five more in 10 Bundesliga games this term.

Kruse, however, has revealed that his career could have been very different.

“I had been in contact with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp since February or March,” he told Sport Bild. “Talking to Jurgen Klopp was awesome, too. Of course I would have gone there.

“It was disappointing when a deal wasn’t done, but that’s how it is in football.”

Bayern Munich’s interest was not so concrete.

“Hasan Salihamidzic [Bayern’s sporting director] called me or he sent me a message, I’m not sure now,” Kruse explained.

“Of course he didn’t call me back. I’m still waiting for his call!”

Kruse, who has won 14 Germany caps and scored four goals, is now 32 and has spent time with several of the Bundesliga’s leading clubs, including Werder Bremen, Freiburg, Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach.