Sakho: 'I didn't agree with Klopp dropping me, the truth will come out'

The former Liverpool defender risked the wrath of iconic manager Jurgen Klopp following his move from their Champions League opponents PSG

Mamadou Sakho remains one of the more enigmatic figures from Liverpool's recent past. The French defender was recruited by former manager Brendan Rodgers in September 2013 in an attempt to strengthen the club's defence.

Signed from Paris Saint-Germain, the side the Reds will meet in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night, for £18million, Sakho became the most costly centre-back in the club's history at that point. Yet, his standing at Anfield would swing between hero and villain, as former boss Jurgen Klopp became frustrated with the defender's conduct away from the pitch.

Sakho's first season nearly brought the Reds their maiden Premier League crown in almost 25 years. However, he appeared in only 18 Premier League matches as Liverpool's defence conceded 50 goals, a figure which ultimately proved costly.

The French international faced a wave of criticism and was never fully backed by Rodgers. Following the Northern Irish manager's departure in October 2015 and Klopp's appointment as boss, Sakho earned his new manager's confidence.

Yet, that trust soon began to crumble. Sakho was famously dismissed from Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States in 2016, after it emerged that he had arrived late for the club's flight, a team dinner and a treatment appointment while recovering from injury.

The centre-half's behaviour in California became the final straw for Klopp, whose tolerance had run out following a string of incidents. Sakho was relegated to the Under-23s and never appeared for the first team again, a display of one of Klopp's harshest punishment during his time at the club.

The Premier League-winning manager also addressed the incident at the time, highlighting the defender's absence of "respect." The German said: "It's not that serious. He missed the departure of the plane, he missed a session and then was late for a meal.

"I have to build a group here, I have to start anew, so I thought it maybe made sense that he flew home to Liverpool and after eight days, when we come back, we can talk about it. But it's not that serious.

"It is how I said, we have some rules and we have to respect them. If somebody doesn't respect it, or somebody gives me the feeling he is not respecting it, then I have to react, that's all."

Sakho left Liverpool in January 2017, securing a loan move to Crystal Palace. He impressed so much in south London that the Eagles even smashed their transfer record to bring him in permanently in the summer of 2017, paying out £25m.

Offering his perspective in 2025, Sakho told the ECHO that he had a "good relationship" with Klopp. He said: "I always respect. I like his type of football.

"Small things are always good to take as an excuse. But the reality wasn't this. But it's fine, you know? But seriously, because a player is late to eat, the time's 7.15 and he comes at 7.18, now he leaves the club? Come on.

"I never talk and I would not speak for the moment because it's not important. I really enjoy my time in Liverpool. Yeah, it was a really great moment for me in my career. And that's it. I told you, I'm a positive man. So I don't like to speak about the inside of football, you know?

"I will speak about it one day, of course. Of course one day I will speak. But not now, it is not the right moment. When I do my documentary of my career and of my life, all the truth will go out in that moment, just for fun."

Sakho left Palace in the summer of 2022. He subsequently had a stint at Montpellier before moving on to Torpedo Kutaisi in the Georgian top flight, ultimately hanging up his boots on a colourful career earlier this year.