Mbappé Was Close to Joining Liverpool
Kylian Mbappé has revealed that Liverpool was once a serious destination for him, with his mother strongly encouraging him to make the move to Anfield.
The France and Real Madrid superstar said his mother was a major admirer of former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and believed the English club would be the ideal place for her son.
Speaking to The Athletic, Mbappé explained that Liverpool was his mother's preferred destination during negotiations over his future.
“I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp.”
Mbappé said his mother repeatedly told him that he would eventually play at Anfield and that the experience would be special.
“She wanted me to go there!”
Despite Liverpool's appeal, Mbappé ultimately decided against the move because he wanted to continue playing in his hometown of Paris.
Mbappé Wanted to Stay in Paris
The decision was influenced by more than football.
Mbappé explained that he did not want to leave France before establishing himself as a major player.
At the time, the young forward was developing at Paris Saint-Germain and had already made his breakthrough in French football with Monaco.
He said playing in his own city was important to him and that he wanted to remain in France before eventually considering a move abroad.
“I wanted to play in my city, Paris.”
Mbappé added that he did not want to leave his country before he had established himself.
That decision ultimately shaped the next stage of his career, as he remained in France and became one of the biggest stars in world football.
His Mother Visited Liverpool
Mbappé's revelation provides an insight into how seriously the Liverpool possibility was considered.
According to the forward, his mother travelled to Liverpool as part of the early negotiations.
She visited the city and Anfield and met people at the club before forming an even stronger opinion about the potential move.
Mbappé recalled that she returned impressed by what she had seen.
She viewed Liverpool as a major club with a strong family atmosphere and was convinced that it would be a suitable environment for her son.
Her enthusiasm reportedly went beyond simply visiting the stadium.
She wanted to understand what life at Liverpool would feel like for her son.
She Fell in Love With Anfield
Mbappé said his mother visited Anfield and watched matches on her own so she could experience the atmosphere inside the stadium.
Her intention was to imagine what it would be like to see her son playing there.
The experience strengthened her belief that Liverpool was the right destination.
Mbappé recalled having conversations with his mother about the possibility of joining the club.
When he asked what she thought, her answer was consistent: Liverpool.
“For me, you have to go to Liverpool.”
The forward said he would respond by acknowledging her opinion, although he had already decided that remaining in Paris was what he wanted at that stage of his career.
Klopp Was a Major Attraction
Another major reason Liverpool appealed to Mbappé's family was Jürgen Klopp.
The German manager was in charge of Liverpool during the period when Mbappé was being linked with a potential move to Anfield.
Mbappé said he had a strong relationship with Klopp and held the manager in high regard.
“Jurgen Klopp was an amazing manager.”
The Frenchman said he had met Klopp and developed a good relationship with him.
He also praised the former Liverpool boss for the impression he made on him.
“I had big respect for him.”
Klopp's reputation for developing attacking players and building a strong team culture made Liverpool particularly attractive to Mbappé's mother.
A Different Career Path
Mbappé eventually remained at Paris Saint-Germain and continued developing into one of football's leading players.
He spent seven seasons with PSG after joining from Monaco in 2017, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles and becoming the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
His decision to remain in Paris also meant that he fulfilled his desire to establish himself in his home city before moving abroad.
In 2024, Mbappé eventually made the move to Spain, joining Real Madrid after his contract with PSG expired.
By then, he had already won the World Cup with France in 2018 and established himself as one of the most recognisable players in global football.
Liverpool Remained a Fascinating 'What If'
Mbappé's latest comments add another chapter to the long-running story of what could have happened had he chosen Liverpool.
The French forward was already attracting attention from Europe's biggest clubs while still a teenager, and Liverpool were among the clubs reportedly interested in him.
A move to Anfield could have placed Mbappé under Klopp at a much earlier stage of his career.
Instead, he chose to stay in Paris, where he became the central figure of PSG's project before eventually moving to Real Madrid.
His mother's enthusiasm for Liverpool, however, remained memorable.
From visiting Anfield and watching matches to imagining her son playing in front of the famous Kop, she had already pictured a future that ultimately never happened.
Mbappé's Liverpool Connection Goes Beyond a Transfer
The story also highlights the personal side of major football transfers.
For Mbappé, the Liverpool option was not simply a club-to-club negotiation. His family became involved, his mother visited the city and stadium, and Klopp himself became part of the conversations surrounding the potential move.
Yet Mbappé's own priorities ultimately prevailed.
He wanted to remain in Paris and continue his development in his home country.
Years later, he can look back on Liverpool as one of the major alternatives that might have changed the direction of his career.
Instead of wearing Liverpool red, Mbappé continued his journey with PSG before eventually becoming a Real Madrid player.
His latest revelation shows just how close the possibility of seeing him at Anfield once came — and how strongly his mother believed it should happen.
