Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted that the club did everything they could to change Philippe Coutinho's mind about a transfer to Barcelona.
However he also insisted the club would continue with its 'aggressive progression' on the pitch.
The club turned down bids of up to £110M in the summer despite Coutinho handing in a transfer request and being unavailable for selection in the first month of the Premier League season.
Since then, Klopp has today painted a picture of a wantaway player insistent on the move which the reds have reluctantly allowed - albeit with a potential £32M premium on Barcelona's summer offer.
In a prepared statement released on the official LFC website Klopp was quoted as saying:
“It is no secret that Philippe has wanted this move to happen since July, when Barcelona first made their interest known.
“Philippe was insistent with me, the owners and even his teammates this was a move he was desperate to make happen.
“I can tell the Liverpool supporters that we, as a club, have done everything within our means to convince Philippe that remaining part of LFC was as attractive as moving to Spain, but he is 100 per cent certain his future – and that of his family – belongs at Barcelona. It is his dream and I am now convinced there is nothing left at our disposal to change his mind.
“Philippe has made a fantastic contribution to this club over his five years of service and as disappointed as we are he doesn’t want to extend that, the relationship we have for him means with a heavy heart we wish him well.
Klopp then switched his message towards the fans.
“Of course, it is totally understandable that supporters will be disappointed; this is always the case when you have to say goodbye to someone special. But, as hard as it is sometimes to accept, it is part of life and part of football – individuals have their own dreams and their own goals and objectives in life.
“Players will come and players will go, that is football, but as a club we are big enough and strong enough to continue with our aggressive progression on the pitch, even when we lose an important player. We have never been in a better position in recent times, as a club, to react in the right way. We will use our size and strength to absorb moments like this and still move forward.
Barcelona, and Nike who are rumoured to have heavily bankrolled the deal, have been announcing the deal themselves on social media.
