It breaks my heart! Klopp sad about Kagawa’s bit-part Man United role
Borussia Dortmund's Jürgen Klopp says it breaks his heart to see Shinji Kagawa play a bit-part role at Manchester United
Jürgen Klopp says it is “heartbreaking” to see Shinji Kagawa confined to a bit-part role on the left wing at Manchester United.
The Japan international has been restricted to 17 Premier League starts in his first season at Old Trafford following a £17m move from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
Kagawa was a key part of the Dortmund side who won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012, and his former manager ranks Kagawa as one of the world’s best players.
“Shinji Kagawa is one of the best players in the world and he now plays 20 minutes at Manchester United – on the left wing!” Klopp told the Guardian.
“My heart breaks. Really, I have tears in my eyes. “Central midfield is Shinji’s best role. He’s an offensive midfielder with one of the best noses for goal I ever saw.
“But for most Japanese people it means more to play for Man United than Dortmund. We cried for 20 minutes, in each others’ arms, when he left.
Dortmund playmaker Mario Götze will join Bayern Munich in a £32m deal this summer, with the two German sides set to meet in the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday.
With Nuri Sahin failing to impress at Real Madrid and Kagawa struggling at the Red Devils, Klopp urged his Dortmund stars to stay put and help the club become one of the biggest in the world.
“One year before that Nuri Sahin went because Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world,” he added.
“If players are patient enough we can develop the team into one of the biggest in the world.”
