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Cape Town - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits the Merseyside outfit "could not afford" to bring Philippe Coutinho back to Anfield due to the massive fees involved.
The Reds sold Coutinho to Barcelona for a fee that could rise to around £142 million in January 2018.
The Brazilian struggled to settle in Spain, however, and has joined Bayern Munich just over 18 months later.
Liverpool were linked with a move to bring their former player back, and while Klopp suggested they considered the option, he stated that they "could not afford it".
"It sounds a bit strange, but we could not afford it," Klopp told Goal. "We have already spent the cash that we got for him.
"We were reluctant to hand him over [last January], but Barcelona forced us with money, so to speak.
"The move makes sense for both sides. He's a super player and a great boy.
"He is a world-class footballer who can change games in the right environment."
