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Jürgen Klopp has hit back at "nonsense" reports connecting him to the Real Madrid vacancy, stating he has had absolutely no contact with the Spanish giants since the start of the year.
Xabi Alonso's exit from Madrid in January triggered a flood of speculation tying Klopp to the role, even after Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed as the new head coach. While his earlier responses were vague, the former Liverpool manager has now categorically dismissed talk of any potential discussions with Madrid.
"I'm glad we're addressing this," Klopp told journalists when questioned about the persistent Madrid rumors during a recent press appearance.
"When does a story actually become a story? When someone picks up a piece of paper and scribbles something down? Or when there's genuine substance behind it?
"What would it actually take? Real Madrid ringing me up and saying, 'Hey Jürgen,' ... Can you picture that? [President] Florentino Pérez on the line going, 'Jürgen, how are you doing? Would you be interested?'
"Or is it enough for some media outlet—I don't know whether it's AI or actual people behind it—to publish any old garbage? It frustrates me. And then I'm constantly having to respond to it.
"There needs to be some discipline here. If Real Madrid had reached out, it would have leaked eventually. But all of this is complete nonsense. They haven't called a single time, not once. My agent is available—you can ask him yourself. They haven't contacted him either.
"Think about how long this has been dragging on. And apparently I'm supposed to be coaching Atlético Madrid as well, maybe simultaneously? People really need to think critically about this."
Arbeloa 'Winning Over' Real Madrid's Biggest Stars
Much of the speculation connecting Klopp to Madrid intensified during the opening months of Arbeloa's reign, which fell considerably short of expectations as the side failed to secure automatic progression to the Champions League knockout rounds.
Talk of Arbeloa potentially being dismissed before the season's end has quieted in recent weeks, however, as the team has found its footing again. Madrid not only battled through the Champions League playoffs under tough conditions, but they also dismantled Manchester City in the round of 16 to advance to a quarterfinal clash with Bayern Munich.
According to MARCA, the manager has done enough to persuade most of Madrid's key figures that he merits keeping the position beyond this campaign.
Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde are reported to be among Arbeloa's supporters, along with Thibaut Courtois, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Antonio Rüdiger.
Even Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, both of whom have endured lengthy injury absences, have reportedly valued the way the manager has handled their time on the sidelines.
A dressing-room rift is thought to have undermined Alonso's short spell at the Bernabéu. Arbeloa, however, has faced no such friction and, while on-field results will always be a factor, the squad is said to be solidly in favor of him continuing into next season.