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23 Sep 2026 | 12.20
UEFA Champions League
PUBLICIDAD
Kylian Mbappé has confirmed that he was close to signing for Liverpool while still playing at Monaco, before choosing Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. The summer of 2024's Real Madrid's new signing, assures that he met with Jürgen Klopp, while his mother had previously traveled to England to get to know the club.
The revelation comes during the Frenchman's national team concentration and revives an operation that could have changed his career. Mbappé was 18 years old when he left Monaco after a season that put him among the most sought-after young players in Europe.
“I always wanted to break records and (make sure) that people remembered my name.
“But I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to be the top scorer of all time at the World Cup, at 27."@DTAthletic's exclusive interview with Kylian Mbappe.
▪️ Making World Cup history
▪️ Asking… pic.twitter.com/8EIcxbpbc2
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) September 22, 2026
Kylian Mbappé met Klopp to sign for Liverpool
Kylian Mbappé admits to 'The Athletic' that the possibility of moving to Anfield was real. His family studied the English project, and his mother, Fayza Lamari, supported accepting the offer due to her admiration for Jürgen Klopp and the impression the club made during a visit to the city.
Klopp himself was directly involved in trying to convince the attacker. The then-manager held a meeting with Mbappé and his entourage on a private plane to explain the sports project he was building in England.
It wasn't enough. Mbappé prioritized staying in France because he wanted to play in Paris before moving to another league. That decision eventually led the forward to Paris Saint-Germain, initially on loan, which later turned into a permanent transfer for 180 million euros.
The story aligns with what Klopp explained months ago. The German coach confirmed that the English club mobilized significant resources to present their project to the player, although Mbappé's personal decision ultimately closed that possibility.
Paris Saint-Germain won the race for Mbappé in 2017
The choice marked the next phase of his career. Kylian Mbappé left Monaco in 2017 after winning Ligue 1 and arrived at PSG at just 18 years old. He stayed in Paris until 2024, when his contract ended, and he finally signed for Real Madrid.
Liverpool would later be linked to the Frenchman again, especially when Mbappé announced he wouldn't renew his contract in Paris. However, the forward now clarifies that the moment he was really close to playing in England was before his move to PSG.
The 2017 deal also had a significant family component. Lamari visited Anfield, watched games, and personally got to know the club's environment before recommending her son to accept that path. Mbappé, however, chose to delay his departure from France.
Mbappé now works with Mourinho and Zidane
The interview also comes at a new time for Kylian Mbappé. At Real Madrid, he is currently under the command of José Mourinho, a coach he has been curious about for years and whose career in European football he admires.
In France, they also have a new coach. Zinedine Zidane has taken over from Didier Deschamps and keeps Mbappé as the captain of the national team, so they will work together for the first time after having coincided previously in Madrid.
Nearly a decade after that negotiation, Kylian Mbappé has clarified which alternative was closest to changing his career before Paris. The final decision was PSG, but the meeting with Klopp and his family's negotiations confirm that his path could have started in the Premier League.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mbappé confirma que negoció con la Premier