Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has lifted the lid on one of the Reds’ most ambitious transfer pursuits, revealing the remarkable measures taken in an attempt to convince Kylian Mbappe to move to Anfield.
Jürgen Klopp has shared a fascinating insight into Liverpool’s unsuccessful pursuit of Kylian Mbappe, admitting the club “really went all out” in an attempt to convince the French superstar to join the Reds.
Speaking to MagentaTV, Klopp recalled an extraordinary meeting with Mbappe and his family that involved private jets, secretive travel arrangements and discussions high above the French Riviera.
“We flew from Blackpool to Nice, in Nice, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms.”
The former Liverpool manager then described the lengths the club went to in order to keep the meeting out of the public eye whilst also admitting the elaborate plan ultimately failed to convince the forward, who instead chose to join Paris Saint-Germain.
“We really went all out.
“Then we flew around in a circle, talked with the family, ate good food. We couldn’t be seen. We flew in a circle.”
“It was fantastic, and then he went to Paris!”
One of football’s biggest transfer sagas
Liverpool’s long-standing admiration for Mbappe has never been a secret.
Throughout Klopp’s time at Anfield, the France international was regularly linked with the Reds whenever speculation surrounding his future intensified.
While Liverpool never came close to matching the financial power of Paris Saint-Germain or later Real Madrid, Klopp’s latest comments underline just how seriously the club explored the possibility.
The meeting itself demonstrates the effort Liverpool were willing to make in the hope of persuading one of world football’s brightest talents that Anfield was the right destination.
A glimpse behind the curtain
Transfer negotiations at the elite level are rarely discussed in such detail, making Klopp’s recollection particularly revealing.
The image of Liverpool officials and the Mbappe family holding talks aboard a private jet while flying in circles to avoid attracting attention offers a rare glimpse into the secrecy surrounding some of football’s biggest transfer pursuits.
Although the move never materialised, it has become another intriguing chapter in Liverpool’s recruitment history under Klopp.
Author’s View: What might have been
Mbappe ultimately remained in France before later continuing his career elsewhere, but Klopp’s story highlights how close Liverpool came to at least presenting their vision to one of the game’s biggest stars.
Supporters can only wonder how different football history might have looked had those conversations in the skies above Nice ended with a different decision.
Instead, Klopp is left with a memorable story - and Liverpool fans with another fascinating “what if?” from one of the club’s most successful modern eras.
