Kylian Mbappe has revealed that his mother wanted him to join Liverpool after meeting Jurgen Klopp and visiting Anfield, but the France international chose to remain in Paris when the move was discussed in 2017.
Former Liverpool manager Klopp recently recalled travelling by private jet from Blackpool to Nice, where he met Mbappe and his family to discuss the forward’s future.
The meeting left Klopp impressed by the possibility of signing Mbappe, who was also attracted to Liverpool. However, the teenager ultimately decided against moving to England and joined Paris Saint-Germain in a £153M transfer in 2018.
Klopp later described the failed deal as Liverpool’s “most expensive non-transfer”.
In an interview with The Athletic this week, Mbappe explained that his desire to play for his hometown club outweighed his admiration for Liverpool and Klopp.
“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,” Mbappe said.
“But yes, my mum was always saying 'Liverpool -- you're going to be there, playing at Anfield, it's going to be insane for you.' I was like, 'OK!'”
Mbappe’s mother travelled to Liverpool during the early stages of negotiations, visiting the city and stadium while meeting people at the club.
“She went there (for) the first step of the negotiations. She went to the city, she went to the stadium, she met the people,” he said.
“She was like, 'It's a wonderful club, everybody's so kind, it's a family club, a big club.'”
She also attended matches at Anfield on her own to experience the atmosphere and picture her son playing there.
“She went to Anfield and fell in love with it. She watched a few games alone, to feel the atmosphere, because she wanted to imagine me in this stadium,” Mbappe added.
The forward said his mother consistently encouraged him to accept Liverpool’s offer, while he understood the appeal of working under Klopp.
“All the time we were talking. 'What do you think, Mum?' She'd say, 'For me, you have to go to Liverpool.' I said, 'OK, OK, OK!' because Jurgen Klopp was an amazing manager,” he said.
“I met him and had a wonderful relationship with him. I had big respect for him.”
Mbappe is now with Real Madrid and has gone trophyless for the past 2 seasons. Although he may be regretting his move to the Spanish club, a transfer to Liverpool appears almost impossible in the near future.