Mbappé reveals how close he came to joining Liverpool

French striker Kylian Mbappé has revealed details about a once-considered move to Liverpool from the time he was still playing for Monaco, speaking in an interview with The Athletic.

Mbappé said he faced an important decision about his career at the time and was fairly close to joining Liverpool. His mother played a major role in the process, having been a great admirer of then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. According to the player, his mother visited the club's Anfield stadium, met with people there and got a feel for the club's atmosphere, even watching several matches alone to imagine her son playing there.

A meeting with Klopp

Mbappé also met personally with Klopp, with the conversation taking place aboard a private plane flying over southern France. Klopp later described this unsuccessful attempt to sign the forward as the club's most expensive transfer that never happened.

Despite his mother's wishes, Mbappé ultimately decided to stay in France. He explained that he wanted to play in his home city of Paris and did not want to leave the country before proving himself. Having been born and raised in Paris, he said there was no better feeling than the chance to become a star in his own city.

Mbappé joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, before moving to Real Madrid in 2024, where he currently plays.