Ex-Liverpool star who was banished from the first-team by Jurgen Klopp speaks out on his mysterious exit

A former Liverpool star who was banished from the first-team by Jurgen Klopp has finally spoken out on his mysterious exit.

Klopp managed some huge names during his legendary managerial spell at Liverpool.

He was like a father figure, with one of his former players breaking down in tears when the German boss announced his Anfield departure.

But there were a few who didn't necessarily see eye-to-eye with Klopp, who notably fell out with Mamadou Sakho during his time at the club.

Sakho joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2013 - two years before Klopp was appointed.

The Frenchman featured for Liverpool when Klopp arrived but his time at the club ultimately fizzled out.

The defender was loaned out to Crystal Palace after an infamous bust-up with Klopp, who sent the player home from Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States.

It emerged that he had been late for the club's fight, a team meal and a treatment session as he recovered from an injury.

Klopp subsequently banished Sakho from the first-team as he was demoted to train with the under-23s squad.

Mystery has surrounded his Liverpool exit until now.

In a recent interview with the ECHO, he opened up about leaving Liverpool and admits he thinks 'small things' were used as 'excuses' against him.

Despite his departure, he holds no ill-feeling towards Klopp.

He explained: "Small things are always good to take as an excuse. But the reality wasn't this. But it's fine, you know?

"But seriously, because a player is late to eat, the time's 7.15 and he comes at 7.18, now he leaves the club? Come on.

"What I wrote (on Snapchat) was the truth. But the truth always takes the stairs and the lie takes the elevator."

Jurgen Klopp and Mamadou Sakho share an embrace after a Liverpool game. Image: Getty

Sakho, 35, who now plays for Georgian side Torpedo Kutaisi, added: "You have football that people see, and you have few things inside but they cannot talk about it. So, I always keep it for me as a man and that's it.

"I never talk and I would not speak for the moment because it's not important. I really enjoy my time in Liverpool.

"Yeah, it was a really great moment for me in my career. And that's it. I told you, I'm a positive man. So I don't like to speak about the inside of football, you know?

"I will speak about it one day, of course. Of course, one day I will speak. But not now, it is not the right moment.

"When I do my documentary of my career and of my life, all the truth will go out in that moment, just for fun.”