Kylian Mbappé's Career Crossroads: Choosing PSG Over Liverpool

Kylian Mbappé stood at a crossroads long before he pulled on the white of Real Madrid or became the face of Paris Saint-Germain. The decision that shaped his career, he now admits, almost sent him to Anfield.

The 2018 World Cup winner, who exploded onto the scene at AS Monaco before his record-breaking move to PSG and eventual switch to Real Madrid two years ago, has revealed just how close he came to joining Liverpool. And it was not tactics or money that nearly swung it. It was family.

Speaking to The Athletic, Mbappé lifted the lid on that moment. His mother, Fayza Lamari, had a clear preference.

"My mum's favourite destination was Liverpool; she wanted me to go there," he said. "There was a time, when I was at Monaco, when I had to make a decision and I was close to joining Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jürgen Klopp, and he's an amazing manager. I met him and I have a wonderful relationship with him. I have great respect for him."

Klopp’s pull was real. Liverpool were rising fast under the German, Anfield was roaring again, and the club’s project fit perfectly with Mbappé’s trajectory. The meeting left its mark. The relationship endured.

But the story turned in a different direction.

Mbappé chose home.

"I didn't listen to (my mum). I wanted to go to my city, Paris. I wanted to play in my own country. I didn't want to leave my country."

That choice triggered one of the most significant transfers of the modern era. PSG paid €180 million to prise him from Monaco, a statement of intent that reshaped French football and underlined the club’s ambition to dominate domestically and compete with Europe’s elite.

The numbers since then speak for themselves. Across seven seasons in the capital, Mbappé became PSG’s all-time leading scorer, hitting 256 goals in 308 matches and adding 110 assists. Ligue 1 titles, domestic cups, constant headlines – he turned into the symbol of Les Rouge et Bleu.

Liverpool were left with the great “what if?”. PSG got their superstar. And Mbappé, having chosen Paris over Anfield, built a legacy in his home city before finally chasing his childhood dream in Madrid.

One decision. Two paths. Football is still living with the consequences.