Jose Enrique invited to Liverpool's Europe League final despite ending playing duties

Jose Enrique's future at Liverpool may be over but the Spaniard has been invited by the club to attend to the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel, IBTimes UK understands. The former Newcastle left-back reached a mutual agreement with manager Jurgen Klopp to end his training duties with the Reds one month before the end of his contract but remains on good terms with the boss and plans to cut his holidays to travel to Basel next week to support his teammates − and celebrate the title should the Merseysiders beat his compatriots.

The Spaniard enjoyed two impressive campaigns at Anfield following his move to the club from Newcastle in the summer of 2011. Yet his appearances in the following two campaigns were restricted by injuries and earlier this campaign then-manager Brendan Rodgers told him he was not part of his plans anymore.

The 30-year-old defender decided to snub some offers to leave Liverpool anyway with hopes to change the manager's mind. However, he failed to do it with Rodgers and was not much luckier with Klopp, with his only three appearances for the German manager coming in the FA Cup double duel with Exeter City and in the draw with West Ham.

Klopp has since opted to use Alberto Moreno, Brad Smith and Jon Flanagan all ahead of him because he is already looking for the future of the club. Reports earlier this week then claimed that Liverpool have thus decided to released him from his contract to let him starting the search for a new club.

The club, however, are yet to confirm those reports through an official announcement. IBTimes UK understands that this is because the former Newcastle defender has eventually not been released from his contract but only given the permission to go on holidays earlier than expected as a reward for his commitment to the Merseysiders.

Jose Enrique had eventually confirmed last month that he was going to leave Liverpool once his current contract expires on 30 June because the Reds were not likely to offer him a new deal, having already received some offers to move somewhere else.

"I don't know if they have presented any offers, but I think that various clubs have contacted my agent for next season," he told Marca last month. "I focus on playing. Right now the coach is not counting on me, but I find myself very well physically.

"I am in the perfect condition and I know that I can have my opportunity. Within four or five years I don't know, but now I find myself like when I was at my best level. If I cannot play here, I will do it somewhere else."

As Klopp has no plans to use him in the last games remaining, the manager agreed to let the defender miss the last weeks of training and go on holiday to his homeland earlier this week. Nevertheless, IBTimes UK understands that Jose Enrique and Liverpool have ended on very good terms and the manager invited him to go to Basel to back his teammates in the Europe League final against Sevilla on 18 May.