Real Madrid News
Jurgen Klopp reveals he tried to sign Real Madrid megastar in 2017 for Liverpool: ‘Most expensive non-signing I’ve ever made’
One of the standout moments after France’s World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco had nothing to do with the match itself.
Instead, it came on the sidelines, where Jurgen Klopp shared a warm embrace with Kylian Mbappe, bringing back memories of one of football’s most fascinating transfer stories.
The latest Real Madrid news follows the reunion between the former Liverpool manager and the France forward, who now leads the line for Real Madrid.
Their friendly exchange reminded many of Klopp’s extraordinary attempt to convince Mbappe to join Liverpool before the French superstar eventually chose Paris Saint-Germain.
Speaking before the France vs Morocco clash, Klopp himself looked back on the famous episode, describing it as one of the most unforgettable moments of his managerial career.
Klopp tried to sign Mbappe for Liverpool
The Jurgen Klopp Kylian Mbappe story dates back to 2017 when the French forward was preparing to leave AS Monaco after announcing himself as one of Europe’s brightest young talents.
Determined to win the race for his signature, Liverpool organised a highly confidential meeting with the teenager and his family.
According to Klopp, the club even arranged a private jet so the discussions could take place away from public attention.
Looking back on the failed move, Klopp joked, “It was the most expensive ‘non-signing’ I’ve ever made in my life.”
The former Liverpool boss then revealed more details about the remarkable operation that has since become one of football’s most talked-about transfer stories.
“We flew round in circles and had a delicious meal. We couldn’t let anyone see us,” said the manager, explaining how the private jet meeting with Mbappe unfolded while they remained airborne to avoid attracting attention.
Mbappe chose PSG over Liverpool
Despite Liverpool’s ambitious approach, Kylian Mbappe chose PSG over Liverpool, completing a move that would shape the next stage of his career.
Klopp admitted there were no hard feelings after missing out on the transfer, accepting that the French international had made the decision he believed was best for his future.
Reflecting on the outcome of the negotiations, he simply said, “It was great, but he ended up going to Paris.”
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
