Mbappe reveals how close he came to joining Liverpool
Kylian MbappeKylian Mbappe has explained how close he came to signing for Liverpool as an 18-year-old playing for Monaco, ignoring his mother’s preference for Anfield.
Anfield. Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons
A private jet meeting over France
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp went to great lengths to secure the forward’s signature, arranging a secret summit aboard a luxury aircraft.
Speaking to Magenta TV as a pundit, Klopp described how an entourage travelled from Blackpool to Nice to meet the young player and his family.
We really went all out. Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food.
Klopp told Magenta TV that the group stayed airborne to avoid detection while discussing the club’s project with the rising star.
Mother’s affection for Merseyside
Mbappe admitted in an interview with The Athletic that his mother was heavily in favour of a switch to the Premier League side.
He explained that she was a huge admirer of the German coach and felt the club matched their family values.
I was close to [joining] Liverpool. The favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there.
Mbappe noted that she even visited the stadium independently to absorb the atmosphere and picture her son wearing the red shirt.
Choosing the capital over England
Despite the charm offensive from Merseyside, the striker had different priorities for the next stage of his career.
He wanted to establish his reputation in his home country before testing himself abroad.
I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone.
He eventually moved to Paris Saint-Germain on loan before completing a permanent transfer and later joining Real Madrid in 2024.
Respect for the former Reds boss
Mbappe maintained great admiration for Klopp throughout the recruitment process.
He acknowledged the immense stature of the club during their airborne discussions.
Mbappe recalled telling the manager that he did not need to be convinced given who he was and the size of the club, though he ultimately pursued other projects.
The forward spent seven years in Paris, setting a club scoring record before his switch to Spain.
