‘My only option’ – Mbappe speaks out on transfer interest after Liverpool links

Kylian Mbappe admitted to turning down every single offer prior to signing for Real Madrid, despite links with Liverpool. The France international was unveiled in front of a fully packed Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday after a lengthy transfer saga.

There had been plenty of speculation over his future at Paris Saint-Germain after he was heavily linked with a move away last summer. He decided to stay at the Ligue 1 giants and has now penned a five-year deal with Madrid after running down his contract at PSG.

Liverpool held a long-standing interest in the 25-year-old, even before his successful spell in Paris. The attacker burst onto the scene in AS Monaco’s Ligue 1 winning side – scoring 27 goals in 60 appearances during the 2016/17 season.

For many, the prospect of Mbappe arriving at Anfield was a fever dream and a reality only seen in football video games. However, not many clubs in world football would be able to financially sustain his wages with former Liverpool director of research Dr Ian Graham admitting so.

In an interview with The Guardian, he said: “Any statistical model will tell you that Kylian Mbappe is the best player in Europe at the moment. But unfortunately, financially, he’s out of Liverpool’s league. We’re looking for the best-performing players per pound.”

No Liverpool offer is thought to have been tabled for the France superstar who was only ever thinking about joining one club. “I had other offers, but I always told them no,” he said when speaking at his Bernabeu welcome ceremony.

“I was very confident that this moment would happen. Real Madrid was my only option. I made a promise to return at Real Madrid, now I’m here.

“I spent endless nights dreaming about one day playing for Real Madrid and today I am one happy guy. My family are so happy here, I can see my mum crying. It’s an incredible day for me, I’ve dreamt of this day since I was a kid and this day means a lot to me.”