The Anfield Road Not Taken: Mbappe Reveals Mother's Klopp Devotion Nearly Made Him a Red

Kylian Mbappe has opened the door on one of football's most tantalising 'what if' moments, revealing he came close to joining Liverpool in 2016 — and that his mother was firmly in the Anfield camp. In comments reported by BBC Sport, the France captain explained that his mum was a 'big fan' of then-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and hoped her son would make the switch to Merseyside. The revelation dates back to a pivotal crossroads in the teenager's career. Mbappe was then a rising star at Monaco, preparing for the breakthrough campaign that would see him terrorise defences across France and Europe with his searing pace and fearless dribbling. Klopp's Liverpool, for their part, were an exciting project on an upward trajectory — a team that would go on to conquer the Champions League in 2019 and end their 30-year wait for a Premier League title a year later. For Liverpool supporters, the news will sting as much as it fascinates. The image of a young Mbappe sprinting onto through balls in front of the Kop, honed by Klopp's famed man-management, is a fantasy that came closer to reality than many might ever have imagined. As it happened, the forward's path led elsewhere. A blockbuster move to Paris St-Germain followed in 2017, where he evolved into one of the most feared attackers in world football, before he finally realised his boyhood dream with a transfer to Real Madrid in 2024. The timing of the disclosure is intriguing, with Mbappe now preparing to lead France's charge at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Already a world champion from 2018 and a beaten finalist in Qatar four years later, he will arrive at the tournament as arguably its biggest draw — a player who has delivered on the grandest stages regardless of the shirt on his back. Yet this glimpse into the road not taken is a reminder of how finely balanced football destinies can be. One persuasive family conversation, one decisive phone call from Klopp, and the entire landscape of European football over the past decade might have looked radically different. Would Mbappe have developed into the same force under the Anfield lights? Would Liverpool's trophy haul have grown even heavier? Nobody can say for certain. What is certain is this: as Mbappe chases World Cup glory in 2026, Liverpool fans will forever wonder what might have been.