Jurgen Klopp surprised fans by revealing an unusual attempt to sign Kylian Mbappé for Liverpool, an effort that ultimately amounted to nothing more than a flight circling over France. The former Reds manager shared the behind-the-scenes details of this failed operation during his commentary for the 2026 World Cup on MagentaTV, exposing information that had previously remained unknown to the general public.
Klopp, who managed Liverpool from 2015 to 2024, confessed that in the summer of 2017, the English club came very close to securing the young French star, who was just 18 years old and making waves at Monaco. That season, Mbappé had already won the French title and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League under the guidance of Leonardo Jardim. When questioned live, the German coach did not hesitate to admit: “For me, this is not easy. I negotiated with three of these players, and none came,” Klopp stated while commenting on the match between France and Morocco, making it clear that Mbappé was one of the priority targets in that transfer window.
The former coach recounted a particularly memorable episode during the negotiations: “We flew from Blackpool to Nice,” Klopp said, detailing that the entire meeting took place in an unusual atmosphere. “Mbappé's whole family was there,” he explained, referring to the meeting held on a private jet while they were flying over French territory. “We flew over France, circled around, talked with the family, and had a delicious meal. It was great, but Mbappé chose PSG,” Klopp lamented, recalling the moment with a mix of humor and disappointment.
Despite the failure to secure Mbappé, Klopp emphasized that, in the same summer, Liverpool managed to secure Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward who would go on to mark an era at Anfield. Salah, who concluded his association with the club this summer, was one of the central figures in the Reds' success in the following years.
With these revelations, Klopp once again showcases the lesser-known and more human side of the major decisions in world football, highlighting the unpredictability and weight of choices involving great talents. The story now recounted by the German coach reminds fans and the football community that behind every failed transfer, there are always negotiation episodes worthy of a true sports thriller.
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