Ryan Babel believes Real Madrid 'don't deserve' Jurgen Klopp as their next manager. The Liverpool boss is bringing the curtain down on an incredible nine-year tenure at Anfield this summer, leaving fans wondering what could be next.

After announcing his decision to leave in January, Klopp mentioned plans to take a sabbatical, though a number of top European clubs will no doubt be hoping to tempt him back into management. Real Madrid have been touted as a possible destination, despite the fact that Carlo Ancelotti has recently penned a new deal which keeps him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2026.

But some, including Babel, aren't sure if the move would be the right fit for Klopp. Speaking to Ladbrokes Fanzone, as quoted by the Mirror, the former Liverpool winger said: "There are not many teams, in my opinion, who deserve Jurgen Klopp.

"He's a coach who needs to be accepted for who he is. He's someone who needs time to completely express is way of playing. So, with that being said, while I would love to see him be successful with a team like Real Madrid, we know that Real Madrid are not a team who are going to give him two or three years to eventually show the football that he wants to play.

"So, I don't think Real Madrid deserve him," added Babel. "Even a team like Bayern, you know, they don't have a lot of patience for managers. There are rumours that he might coach the German national team... I don't know about that. But I think he'll definitely surprise a lot of people."

Babel, who joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2007 and made 146 appearances, shared his thoughts on Klopp's potential next move after leaving Anfield. He suggested: "He will probably go away to a lot of holiday destinations, drink some beer and spend some quality time with his family.

"He'll try to release all the stress, in a good environment with his family, before he inevitably goes back to work. Judging from the outside, and knowing Jurgen Klopp, he's far from done. I think he'll get bored within six months and he'll want to work again."

After leaving Liverpool in 2011, Babel had spells at Hoffenheim before returning to the Premier League with Fulham in 2018. He later retired from football in November following stints at Galatasaray, Ajax and Eyupspor.