Jurgen Klopp was reduced to tears on the phone after being told he could not sign ex-Tottenham striker Kevin Prince-Boateng.
While in charge of Borussia Dortmund in 2009, Klopp signed Boateng on loan from Tottenham for the latter part of the season.
In 10 Bundesliga appearances, the midfielder helped Dortmund finish sixth in the league.
Klopp was desperate to sign Boateng on a permanent deal in the early days of his seven-year stint at the club.
But BVB bosses told him it was impossible due to their financial position and Boateng went on to sign for Portsmouth in a nomadic career.
Boateng recalled that period of his career to Rio Ferdinand and told his FIVE podcast: “When they announced that I come to Dortmund, they [fans] criticised the club.
«Like: 'Why [are] you bringing that guy? He's crazy. Did you see what he did in Tottenham?’”
The 36-year-old revealed what Klopp said in his introductory press conference:
“'I brought him here, I will make him the player he is'. He said Prince Boateng has a book of 1,000 pages and each page is different, that's how good he is.
“I said I will give my life for him. Every player would die for him on the pitch because he gives you that feeling of confidence, that feeling of love as well.
“Whatever you do, if you do a mistake, he's going to be there. I needed that guy who was going to believe in me because after Martin Jol and Juande Ramos, no-one believed in me. I didn't believe in myself — I just gave up.
“I had like six, seven pounds [of weight] more. So he gave me that feeling, so I came [there] and performed.
“It didn't work out. He called me personally and said we can't buy you, we don't have the money.
»We both cried on the phone. Like really cried. We had a very good relationship.”
Klopp
Read on talksport.com