Palmeiras boss aims savage swipe at Jurgen Klopp after ex-Liverpool manager touched down in Brazil for visit to Red Bull Bragantino after taking on new job following Anfield exit

Jurgen Klopp’s job as head of global soccer for Red Bull GmbH took him to Brazil on Tuesday.

The former Liverpool manager, who has been in his current role since New Year’s Day, traveled to Palmeiras to watch Red Bull Bragantino earn a 0-0 draw in the Campeonato Paulista.

Klopp’s attendance at Sao Paulo’s Allianz Parque gained plenty of attention and he was even a subject of conversation in Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira’s post-game press conference.

Ferreira has won 10 trophies with Palmeiras since he first took charge of the club in October 2020. However, his side finished six points behind champions Botafogo in the most recent edition of Carioca Serie A.

Responding to criticism, Ferreira took aim at Klopp by mocking the trophy record of Tuesday’s special guest.

Ferreira told reporters: ‘Today there was a gentleman here called Klopp, who won fewer titles in eight years at Liverpool than my coaching staff here at Palmeiras. So don’t come and talk to me about being hungry for titles.’

Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira watched his side draw 0-0 with Red Bull Bragantino on Tuesday

Jurgen Klopp has been the head of global soccer at Red Bull GmbH since the start of the year

Klopp previously won eight trophies as Liverpool manager, including one Champions League

Klopp won eight trophies in nearly nine seasons with Liverpool, although he only delivered one Premier League title during that period, before standing down in May last year.

His decision to work for Red Bull – whose portfolio of clubs also includes RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and Paris FC – has been criticised by some sections of the football community.

Many fans of Borussia Dortmund, where Klopp previously held legendary status, have turned against their former king following his decision to link up with Leipzig.

Leipzig are largely unpopular in Germany due in part to their supposed disregard for the country’s ’50+1′ ownership model, which gives fans more control.

Indeed, Klopp himself said as recently as 2022: ‘I know how much the Red Bull idea is criticised by traditionalists, and I’m one of them too.’