I Was Close — Mbappé Reveals How He Nearly Joined Liverpool In 2016

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has revealed that he came close to joining Liverpool in 2016 while he was still a teenage star at Monaco, with his mother reportedly favouring a move to the Premier League club after developing a strong admiration for Anfield.

Mbappé, who was 18 at the time, disclosed that Liverpool was his mother’s preferred destination after she visited the club during the early stages of negotiations. According to Bush Radio Academy, the France international said his mother was impressed by the atmosphere at Anfield and the welcome she received from people at the club.

Mbappé explained that his mother travelled to Liverpool, visited the stadium and met members of the club before watching matches at Anfield to experience the atmosphere for herself. He said the experience left her convinced that Liverpool would be an ideal destination for him.

However, despite the family’s interest in Liverpool, Mbappé decided against leaving France at that stage of his career. He explained that his desire to establish himself in his hometown of Paris and represent his country played a major role in his decision.

The forward eventually joined Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco, initially on loan before the transfer was made permanent in a deal reportedly worth €180 million.

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has also previously spoken about the club’s efforts to sign Mbappé during that period. According to Klopp, Liverpool went to significant lengths to convince the young forward and his family, including arranging a private flight from Blackpool to Nice before taking them on a trip where they held discussions about the proposed move.

Klopp recalled that the club made extensive efforts to make the transfer happen, but Mbappé ultimately chose Paris instead.

The decision proved significant in Mbappé’s career, as he spent seven years at PSG and became the club’s record goalscorer before leaving France for Real Madrid in 2024.

Reflecting on the transfer decision years later, Mbappé said his desire to succeed in the city where he was born and raised ultimately influenced his choice. He explained that he wanted to prove himself in Paris before eventually pursuing opportunities outside France.

Mbappé’s latest revelation offers a glimpse into how close Liverpool came to signing one of the world’s most prominent forwards before his career developed into one of the biggest success stories in modern football.