Jurgen Klopp finally lifted the lid on one of football’s most bizarre transfer sagas this week. Liverpool’s former boss reunited with Kylian Mbappe at the World Cup and could not resist sharing the story behind their secret meeting years ago.

The Secret Flight To Nice

Back in 2017, Liverpool chased Mbappe hard before he chose Paris Saint-Germain. Klopp described the pursuit as the club’s “most expensive non-transfer” ever attempted. The German explained how his staff flew from Blackpool to Nice for a clandestine meeting. Once there, the entire Mbappe family boarded a private jet with five rooms waiting on the tarmac.

Nobody could risk being spotted together, so the group took an unusual approach. They stayed airborne, circling while they talked and shared a meal on board. Klopp called the whole operation fantastic, even though it never delivered the signing. Fans can read more transfer stories at www.kcpredict.com for constant updates on today’s biggest names.

Why The Move Never Happened

Despite the elaborate effort, Mbappe ultimately picked PSG instead. The France striker joined PSG on loan before the move became permanent for around 180 million euros. He would go on to become Paris’ record scorer across seven seasons before completing his switch to Real Madrid in 2024.

Interestingly, Mbappe has never hidden his fondness for the Reds. He once explained that red is his mother’s favourite colour and that she has always loved Liverpool, a detail that clearly amused both men when they crossed paths again this week. Their warm exchange, detailed further by FootballTransfers, shows the bond still exists nearly a decade later. Klopp is now widely tipped to take charge of Germany’s national team, closing one chapter while old transfer tales resurface for supporters to enjoy.