Kylian Mbappe remained tight-lipped when asked if he he prefers Liverpool or Real Madrid amid claims he wants a sensational transfer.
The French superstar's future was once again thrust onto the back pages this week, as bombshell reports emerged that he wanted to leave Paris Saint-Germain - a mere five months after signing an extravagant new contract. Mbappe is alleged to feel betrayed by the PSG hierarchy, fuelling intense speculation - which the club are attempting to quash - that a move could be on the cards ahead of the January transfer window.
Away from the pitch, the 23-year-old has been focussing on philanthropy and recently launched the initiative 'Inspired by KM', which has been set up to help children in his native Paris fulfil their dreams. According to French outlet RMC Sport, Mbappe attended an event this week to launch the campaign, and it was there when he was asked whether he would prefer to sign for Liverpool or Real Madrid.
It's claimed that the World Cup winner 'displayed a broad smile' in response, prompting the organiser to remind the guests that he would not discuss football as he kept quiet. However, the report adds that Mbappe made a mention of his sporting career by affirming his short-team goal. "For now, a second World Cup," the France international affirmed. "After that, I don't know."
Liverpool and Madrid have been named as Mbappe's two greatest admirers, with the latter coming closest to securing his signature over the summer - only for him to make a dramatic U-turn. Real president Florentino Perez has spoken about the fiasco multiple times since, claiming in June that the forward would "already be sorry" for rejecting Los Blancos after they won the Champions League for a record 14th time.
"Mbappe is already forgotten," Perez claimed. "We have had a perfect season and we will continue to work to get the best players." The Santiago Bernabeu head honcho further discussed the situation in an interview with El Chiringuito, claiming: "His dream was to play at Real Madrid.
"We wanted to do it last August and they didn't let him leave; he kept saying he wanted to play at Madrid, and like 15 days before, he changed the situation. This is not the Mbappe I wanted to bring, he is another one, who must have changed his dream. He changes, he is offered other things, he is pressured and he is already another footballer.
"There is no one at Real Madrid above the club. He is a great player, he can win more than others, but it is a collective sport and we have values and principles that we cannot change. "The Mbappe who was going to come here is not this one. If it is, I prefer him to stay at PSG. I want the one with the dream. Impossible in three years? In three years' time, we will all be bald?
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"This Mbappe is not my Mbappe, who refuses to do a publicity stunt with his national team... I don't want that. It could have been a slip of the tongue, but I think he was mistaken."
As for Liverpool's chances, boss Jurgen Klopp ruled out a deal back in May on financial grounds, although Mbappe has confirmed in the meantime that there were initial talks with the Reds.
"I talked to Liverpool because it's the favourite club of my mum, my mum loves Liverpool," he told the Telegraph shortly after putting pen to paper on a new three-year contract with PSG. "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."
