Kylian Mbappe has revealed that Liverpool was seriously considered as his next destination during his breakthrough years at Monaco, but a desire to remain in Paris ultimately convinced him to choose Paris Saint-Germain.
The France international said his mother was particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of him moving to Merseyside. She travelled to Liverpool during the early stages of discussions, visited Anfield and came away impressed by the club and the atmosphere around it.
According to Mbappe, his mother was a huge admirer of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and imagined her son playing at Anfield.
"She went to the city, the stadium, she met the people," Mbappe told The Athletic. "She was like, 'It's a wonderful club, everybody's so kind, it's a family club, a big club.'"
The forward said she even attended Liverpool matches on her own so she could experience the atmosphere and picture what life might have been like for him at the club.
But while Liverpool appealed strongly to his mother, Mbappe had a different priority.
Having grown up in the Paris suburb of Bondy, he wanted to establish himself in his home city rather than move abroad before he had fully made his name in football.
"I didn't listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris," Mbappe said. "I didn't want to leave my country before I was someone."
Liverpool's pursuit was nevertheless serious.
Klopp recently recalled the extraordinary lengths the club went to in an attempt to convince Mbappe and his family. Speaking during the 2026 World Cup, the former Liverpool manager said the club arranged a private jet from Blackpool to Nice, where Mbappe's family joined them.
Klopp said the group deliberately flew around rather than landing immediately because they did not want the meeting to attract attention. The family spent time with Liverpool representatives during the flight, with Klopp recalling that they also shared a meal while discussing the proposed move.
The effort ultimately failed to change Mbappe's mind.
The Liverpool pursuit is understood to have taken place during Mbappe's rise at Monaco, with Klopp among the prominent coaches who met the teenage forward as he considered his options in 2017. Contemporary reports at the time confirmed that Liverpool and several other major European clubs were interested before Mbappe eventually selected PSG.
For Mbappe, the attraction of returning to Paris proved decisive.
"For me, born and raised in Paris, there was no better feeling than to show I could be a star in my hometown," he explained.
Mbappe subsequently joined PSG from Monaco on an initial loan deal that included an option to make the transfer permanent for €180 million. He spent seven seasons with the Paris club, becoming its record goalscorer before leaving for Real Madrid in 2024.
Looking back, Mbappe says Liverpool came close to becoming an important chapter in his career. But despite his mother's enthusiasm for Anfield, his decision to stay in France ultimately shaped the path that followed.
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