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Oliver Mintzlaff, RB’s head of football, has been speaking to German magazine SportBild about his job.

It’s no surprise Naby Keita was brought into the conversation, with SportBild keen to know why RB Leipzig have already agreed a deal with Liverpool for the player’s transfer.

Mintzlaff explained it was all down to the will of Keita and how eager the midfielder was to join Liverpool and link up with Jurgen Klopp. Such was Keita’s desire to move to the Premier League club last summer, and RB Leipzig’s desire to keep him, a compromise was found which guaranteed a move down the line.

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“Naby was very enthralled by Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp in particular. It’s understandable that this was something that went through his head because he could earn many times what he gets from us. He wanted to change immediately. But Ralf Rangnick told the team that we’ll not sell a player. It wasn’t lip service, it was carved in stone. We act credibly. Had we released Keita, maybe other players would have come up with a similar idea.

“In football, it’s rather rare that you say something and stick to it. Not with us! Liverpool wanted to meet with me countless times. To eat or to visit our training centre. I had invited the responsible people, but not for negotiations.”

As well as Keita getting his move guaranteed, Liverpool are also assured of the signing, which means Klopp can plan ahead with the midfielder in his thoughts.

SportBild put it to Mintzlaff that Klopp now has his favourite player secured, and the RB boss said: “Yes, especially since FC Barcelona was interested in Naby Keita. This was confirmed to us also from Barcelona. However, they didn’t put in as much gas as Liverpool.”

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