Liverpool Cult Hero's Midnight Social Media Outburst After Anfield Exile
The dramatic downfall of former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been revealed through a desperate 3am Snapchat plea sent during his exile from the first team. The French centre-back, who officially retired from football last month at age 35, took to social media to voice his frustration after being banished to the youth setup by manager Jurgen Klopp.
Record Signing's Promising Start Turns Sour
Sakho arrived at Liverpool in September 2013 as a £18 million signing from Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the club's most expensive defender at that time. The 23-year-old French international was brought in by then-manager Brendan Rodgers to strengthen a leaky defense that would ultimately concede 50 goals during his debut season, costing Liverpool the Premier League title despite their strong challenge.
The defender struggled to win over critics during his early Anfield career, facing accusations of being hesitant in possession and clumsy in challenges. However, his fortunes appeared to change when Jurgen Klopp replaced Rodgers in October 2015, with Sakho earning a place in the German's first starting lineup.
Europa League Heroics and Doping Controversy
Sakho enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Klopp, delivering outstanding performances during Liverpool's run to the 2016 Europa League final. He scored a crucial goal in the stunning 4-3 comeback victory against Borussia Dortmund in the semi-final, endearing himself to the Kop with his passionate declaration of playing for "the Liverpool country."
This wave of popularity came crashing down in April 2016 when Sakho received a doping suspension after his initial sample showed traces of a fat-burning substance. Although he avoided a second test and the sanction was later overturned on appeal, the damage was done. The defender missed the Europa League final against Sevilla and France's squad for the European Championships that summer.
The Breaking Point in America
Despite being cleared by WADA in July 2016 and receiving an apology, Sakho's relationship with Klopp deteriorated during Liverpool's pre-season tour of America. The defender clashed with the manager while undergoing treatment for an Achilles injury, with his conduct at the training camp prompting Klopp to send him back to Merseyside.
This proved to be the final straw for Klopp, who demoted Sakho to the Under-23s squad. The defender would never feature for Liverpool's senior side again, leading to his emotional 3am Snapchat outburst where he revealed his frustration at being excluded even from youth team matches.
The Desperate Social Media Plea
In his late-night Snapchat post, Sakho wrote: "Now it's 3 weeks I am fit to play games. I finish[ed] all my rehabilitation work. They don't want me to play also with the segonde team (U23s) lol! Why? I don't know."
He continued: "I am still working hard like a Scouse soldier! Still not talking because I want to speak on the pitch... I will speak soon for the people who support me and don't understand the situation. I accept my situation but I can't accept the lie... The fans deserve to know the truth!"
Loan Exit and Eventual Retirement
Sakho departed Liverpool in January 2017, joining Crystal Palace on loan before making the move permanent for £25 million that summer after impressive performances. His career later took him to Montpellier and finally to Georgian side Torpedo Kutaisi before he announced his retirement earlier this year.
The defender's Liverpool career, which began with such promise as a record signing, ultimately ended in acrimony with his relationship with Klopp broken beyond repair. His midnight Snapchat message stands as a poignant testament to the frustration felt by a player who went from Europa League hero to outcast within months.
