Jurgen Klopp has revealed the extraordinary lengths Liverpool went to in an attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe when the French striker was a teenager, including flying him and his family on a private jet and hosting a secret gourmet meal. The revelation comes as Mbappe stars for France at the World Cup, having scored eight goals in six appearances so far.
Klopp's Bold Recruitment Tactic
Speaking to Magenta TV, Klopp described the effort as 'the most expensive non-transfer Liverpool ever made.' He explained: 'We flew from Blackpool to Nice. In Nice, the whole Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five cabins. We really went big. Then we flew around in circles and had a delicious meal. We weren't allowed to be seen. It was great – and then he went to Paris.'
At the time, Mbappe was 17 and playing for Monaco. Despite Klopp's charm offensive, Mbappe opted to join Paris Saint-Germain on a year-long loan in 2017, with a permanent transfer fee of £153 million (€180 million) paid a year later.
Alternative Paths: Salah vs Mbappe
Liverpool instead signed Mohamed Salah from Roma for £36.5 million that summer. Salah has since scored 257 goals in 442 matches for the club, becoming a club legend. Mbappe, now 27, netted 256 goals in seven seasons at PSG before joining Real Madrid in 2024. He currently leads the World Cup Golden Boot race with eight goals, level with Lionel Messi and one ahead of Erling Haaland (7). Mbappe also sits second on the all-time World Cup scoring list with 20 goals, trailing Messi by one.
Klopp's Future in Management
Klopp, who left Liverpool at the end of last season, is reportedly in line to become head coach of the German national team. This follows Julian Nagelsmann's resignation after Germany's round of 32 loss to Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup. Klopp's failed pursuit of Mbappe remains one of football's great 'what if' stories, highlighting the fine margins that shape careers and club histories.
