EPL: Why I snubbed move to Liverpool – Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has disclosed that he nearly joined Liverpool during his transfer from Monaco in 2017.
At that time, several elite European clubs sought the young French star’s signature. Liverpool expressed a strong interest, and then-manager Jürgen Klopp arranged a meeting with Mbappé’s mother, who had traveled to the UK to watch matches and became enamored with the Premier League club.
Despite this interest, Mbappé ultimately signed with Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal, which converted to a permanent transfer one year later.
In an interview with The Athletic, Mbappé elaborated on the involvement of his mother in the decision-making process. “I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jürgen Klopp, and her favorite destination was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there,” he said.
Mbappé explained that he chose to remain in Paris, stating, “I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone.” His mother, however, frequently encouraged him, emphasizing the allure of playing at Anfield. “She went to the city, the stadium, she met the people. She was like, ‘It’s a wonderful club, everybody’s so kind; it’s a family club, a big club.’”
She even attended games independently to experience the atmosphere, hoping to envision her son playing there. “All the time we were talking. I said, ‘What do you think, Mum?’ She’d say, ‘For me, you have to go to Liverpool,’” he recounted, noting his respect for Klopp after a positive relationship with the manager during negotiations.
Ultimately, Mbappé decided to follow his desire to play in his hometown, solidifying his rise to prominence at Paris Saint-Germain.
