Jurgen Klopp already offered Kylian Mbappe verdict amid Real Madrid links and Xabi Alonso backlash

Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp already gave his verdict on Kylian Mbappe amid links with the vacancy at Real Madrid and the backlash from the Frenchman overruling Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.(Image: Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)

Xabi Alonso lasted under a year at Real Madrid — and while he showed himself capable of being an elite manager at Bayer Leverkusen, the ex-Liverpool midfielder was unable to get the most out of Kylian Mbappe and co in the Spanish capital.

Having lost only six games, Alonso did not do a bad job. His side was second in the La Liga standings and on track to progress in Europe, but it wasn't enough. Florentino Perez is not known for delaying when he wants to make a change, though, and in came Alvaro Arbeloa.

After what turned out to be Alonso's final game in charge of Real Madrid, footage surfaced showing Mbappe encouraging his Real Madrid colleagues not to provide Barcelona with a guard of honor after the Spanish Super Cup final.

Alonso was encouraging his players to do what Barcelona had done for them as a sign of respect, but Mbappe took over in what was another bad look for the Spaniard's control of the locker room. That kind of summed things up.

Liverpool legend Jurgen Klopp was appearing on German television shortly after the news that Alonso had been dismissed emerged.

"I think the rumors have been circulating for some time now," he said. "And I know exactly what your question is getting at, but it has nothing to do with me.

Xabi Alonso speaks ahead of what proved to be his final game as Real Madrid head coach.(Image: Ismael Adnan Yaqoob/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"I was surprised [that Alonso was fired]; that’s true. Genuinely surprised. Then a few people messaged me, and I replied with various emojis."

Despite that, however, Klopp has been linked with taking over at Real Madrid in the summer. According to Sky Germany, the former Reds boss is a candidate for the full-time post.

Not only that, it says Klopp would consider taking the position. The 58-year-old could supposedly be tempted into returning to management for such a prestigious role.

Though it feels like a very unnatural fit — Alonso wanted his players to run more and play in a system rather than just do whatever each individual wanted — if Klopp were hypothetically to move to Real Madrid, he would work alongside some massive names.

Liverpool was at one point interested in signing both Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, but they opted to move to the Bernabeu in the end.

"I love him, to be honest," Klopp said in 2018 when speaking about a then-19-year-old Mbappe. "What a player he is and a nice lad as well, so he's a really good kid. What a player, what a player.

"Everyone knows him since he was 16, 17, when he impressed in Monaco's youth teams, and I saw videos of him when he was 17, and he destroyed defensive lines as he is doing now.

"He's at an unbelievable level of consistency at that age. He's an outstanding player, that's clear, but he can deliver, deliver and deliver, which shows he's really good educated boy and he knows what he is doing."