The former Liverpool star risked the wrath of iconic boss Jurgen Klopp
Mamadou Sakho looks on
Mamadou Sakho was a cult figure on Merseyside(Image: Colin Lane)
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Mamadou Sakho is one of the more enigmatic players from Liverpool's recent history. The French defender was brought to Liverpool by ex-manager Brendan Rodgers in September 2013 in a bid to toughen up the club's backline.
Arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, the club the Reds will face in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening, for £18million, Sakho became the most expensive centre-half in the club's history at the time. However, his status at Anfield would pivot between hero and villain, as former head coach Jurgen Klopp grew tired of the defender's off-field antics.
Sakho's debut campaign nearly delivered the Reds their first Premier League title in almost 25 years. Yet, he featured in just 18 Premier League games as Liverpool's backline leaked 50 goals, a tally which ultimately cost them dearly.
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The French star came in for a barrage of criticism and was never truly embraced by Rodgers. After the Northern Irish coach was dismissed in October 2015 and Klopp was installed as manager, Sakho gained his new manager's trust.
However, that began to erode quickly. Sakho was infamously sent home from Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States in 2016, where it had emerged that he had been late for the club’s flight, a team meal and a treatment session as he recovered from injury.
The centre-back's actions in California proved to be the breaking point for Klopp, whose patience had worn thin after a series of misdemeanours. Sakho was demoted to the Under-23s and never featured for the senior side again, a demonstration of one of Klopp's most devastating punishments while he was at the club.
Mamadou Sakho, Daniel Sturridge, Nathaniel Clyne and Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp froze out Mamadou Sakho ahead of his first full season in charge(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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The Premier League-winning boss also spoke about the incident at the time, citing the defender's lack 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 departed Liverpool in January 2017, sealing a loan switch to Crystal Palace. He performed so impressively in south London that the Eagles even broke their transfer record to sign him permanently in the summer of 2017, shelling out £25m.
Giving his side of the story in 2025, Sakho told theECHO that he had a “good relationship" with Klopp. He said: “I always respect. I like his type of football.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp with defender Mamadou Sakho
Klopp and Sakho had a rollercoaster relationship(Image: Getty)
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“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 departed Palace in the summer of 2022. He later featured for Montpellier and finally for Torpedo Kutaisi in the Georgian first division before calling time on his colourful career earlier this year.
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