How Real Madrid’s Mbappé stood up Champions League rivals Liverpool

Kylian Mbappé captivated fans with his goals at Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain, but ever since he arrived at Parc des Princes, speculation over his future was constant. Real Madrid weren’t his only suitors during his time with the French champions. While the LaLiga giants eventually secured the forward, Liverpool, who they play in the Champions League on Wednesday (November 27), thought they had signed the France captain but were ultimately left in the lurch.

How Kylian Mbappé nearly signed for Liverpool

The 25-year-old will visit Anfield, a place that could have called home, for the second time in his career. In his first and only previous visit with PSG during the 2018-19 season, Mbappé scored to level the match at 2-2, thanks to an assist from Neymar Jr., only for Roberto Firmino to net the winner in the 92nd minute. Years later, Mbappé was seriously tempted to join one of the Premier League’s giants.

“I spoke with Liverpool because it was my mother’s favorite club,” Mbappé admitted to The Telegraph. It was 2022, and the Frenchman had just renewed his contract with PSG, but the Reds had done as much to secure his signing as Real Madrid had.

“It’s a good club, and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco, I met them. It’s a great club. My mother loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you’ll have to ask her!” added the forward, highlighting that his mother and agent, Fayza Lamari, was thrilled at the idea of seeing him in Liverpool red, sprinting down the wings at Anfield.

French newspaper L’Equipe shed more light on a deal that never materialized. That summer, just weeks after signing his new contract, Mbappé requested a transfer and reached an agreement with Liverpool. The forward wanted to leave and sought a short-term contract with Liverpool before eventually moving to Real Madrid. Neither happened. Anfield was neither a stepping stone nor a final destination.

Mohamed Salah the main danger to Real Madrid

In England, the door was left open for the possible arrival of Mbappé last summer, but it depended directly on another deal that fell through: Mohamed Salah could have been sold to Saudi Arabia in the 2024 summer transfer window as he entered the last year of his contract. With the Egyptian’s future still uncertain (his deal expires in June 2025, and he can negotiate with any club starting January 1), Salah has yet to renew but continues to prove his importance to Liverpool at the age of 32.

The right winger was decisive again in Sunday’s match against Southampton, scoring two goals that helped the Reds come back to win at St. Mary’s Stadium. A message to Real Madrid and those who wanted to replace him with the Parisian attacker.

Salah vs Mbappé

The two players go into Wednesday’s game at Anfield in different places. Salah continues performing at an incredibly high level, with 12 goals and 10 assists this season.

Mbappé's stats, meanwhile, are more impressive than his performances. The Frenchman scored his ninth goal for Madrid against Leganés at the weekend, but we are still awaiting his first standout performance in white. With Vinicius out for three weeks, now would be perfect timing...

And what better setting than a Champions League for Mbappé to show Real Madrid fans what he’s truly capable of and remind Liverpool of what could have been?

Original article written by Alberto P. Sierra, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.

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