PARIS – Kylian Mbappe said Liverpool were one of the clubs he spoke to before deciding to extend his stay at Paris St Germain, and that he had also met with the Premier League side in 2017 when he was still at Monaco.
Mbappe had been widely tipped to join Real Madrid this summer but stunned the Spanish champions by signing a contract extension until 2025 with PSG last week.
Juergen Klopp said earlier this month that Liverpool was interested in Mbappe and the player said there had been some contact.
“We talked a little bit, but not too much,” Mbappe told the Daily Telegraph.
“I talked to Liverpool because it’s the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool. I don’t know why, you will have to ask her.
“It’s a good club and we met them five years ago. When I was in Monaco I met them. It’s a big club.
“Of course, it was between Real Madrid and Paris St Germain in the end.” Liverpool and Real will meet in Paris on May 28 in the Champions League final,” he added according to Reuters.
Mbappe said Monday he would not interfere in the management of Paris Saint-Germain or in transfer policy after he decided to snub Real Madrid to stay with the club.
“I remain a footballer, who is part of a team, and I will not go beyond this role. I won’t go beyond my role as a player,” Mbappe said.
Mbappe said he “can imagine” Real Madrid’s disappointment after rejecting them to sign a contract extension with Paris St Germain, adding that he will be supporting the Spanish side in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Mbappe had been widely tipped to join Real Madrid when his contract expired at the end of the season but on Saturday signed an extension at PSG until 2025.
La Liga reacted angrily to Mbappe’s contract extension, saying it would file a complaint to European soccer’s governing body UEFA and that PSG’s new offer “attacks the economic stability” of European football.
Real also had a bid for Mbappe rejected last year.
Mbappe thanked Real Madrid and their president Florentino Perez for their interest in signing him.
“I am aware of the chance and privilege I had at being coveted by such an institution. I can imagine their disappointment,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I will be their biggest fan in the Champions League final in Paris. My home.”
Mbappe, who scored 39 goals and provided 26 assists for PSG in all competitions this season, said he can “continue to grow” at the club.
