Klopp's secret operation: A flight with the Mbappé family in a private jet

Jürgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has disclosed an extraordinary secret operation from 2017 aimed at signing a then-18-year-old Kylian Mbappé. The clandestine effort involved chartering a private jet to fly Mbappé and his family from Blackpool to Nice for a meeting, all while keeping the encounter hidden from the media.

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It is extremely difficult for me at the moment. I have already negotiated with three of their players and I have never been able to sign them.

Klopp, now a pundit for MagentaTV, recounted the "operation" with a "bitter smile," describing it as a "500 million euro deal, our most expensive non-transfer." He revealed that they "just flew in circles and ate good food" on the private jet, emphasizing the secrecy. Despite these elaborate measures and Mbappé's mother's preference for Liverpool, the young star ultimately chose to join Paris Saint-Germain for €180 million.

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We flew from Blackpool to Nice. There, the entire Mbappé family boarded a private jet with five cabins. Then we just flew in circles and ate good food. They weren't allowed to see us. It was great, and then he went to Paris.

This near-transfer is highlighted as one of Liverpool's "biggest transfer failures." Klopp also mentioned his frustration at failing to sign three other players who ended up at PSG, including Ousmane Dembélé and Adrien Rabiot, whom he encountered after a Champions League match. Mbappé himself confirmed discussions with Liverpool in a 2022 interview, noting his mother's fondness for the club, but ultimately opted for a return to France.

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We talked a little, but not too much. I talked to Liverpool because it's my mom's favorite club. I don't know why, you'll have to ask her! It's a good club, we met them five years ago. When I was at Monaco, I met them. It's a big club.