Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane, the Senegalese winger, recently revealed the intricate details behind his high-profile transfer to Liverpool, a move that saw him turn down offers from both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. Mane, who had impressed during his stint at Southampton between 2014 and 2016, eventually joined Liverpool for a fee of £34 million. The decision, however, was not straightforward, as Mane was in discussions with three major clubs before Jurgen Klopp’s intervention swayed him.
Sadio Mane said: “(Louis) Van Gaal called me. He said, ‘Mané, how are you? What are you doing? Now I’m talking to my agent. So where am I going to play?’ That was my question, because me, I want to play. He said, ‘I know your talent, you’re good. But if you do good training, good impression, you will play. But we have another player which is also good.’ I was not convinced about his explanation. And a few days after, the club called me. So I was waiting with my agent and my family. I talked to the coach, but he told me that I will play if I’m good; if not… But at the time, me, I was not ready, I can say. I was young. I still needed someone to help me more. Because I was still in Southampton; I was not consistent.”
Mane continued: “And then we said, ‘OK, we’ll see.’ Because maybe Tottenham, I have a meeting with Tottenham. At the same time, (Mauricio) Pochettino called him. And I was… I see the facility, I meet the coach, I talk to him. And I was more convinced than the Man United project. Because Man U was too many… the problem was too many big players.”
Mane added: “And the time Klopp was in Dortmund, in the second season in Salzburg, he wanted me. Because the way Salzburg play and the way they defend, the pressure was unbelievable at the time. And exactly, Dortmund was playing in the same style. Pressing, pressing, pressing. And at the same time, I met Klopp. He wanted to bring me to Dortmund, but it didn’t work out. So when he was in Liverpool, and I was also making my way, I go to Southampton. And that was… ‘OK, we meet again.’ He called me. He said, ‘Listen, it didn’t work out. It was my fault. So what do you think? We work again or…’”
Mane concluded: “Klopp called me. First of all, I say, ‘Coach…’ He said, ‘How are you? I met him first. I was not happy.’ And he apologised for this. And he said, ‘We will build the team no one wants to play against. And then, if we grow up together, you will play every game.’ So when he said this, that time I went to this kind of project I wanted. Because he said, ‘We will make a strong team, and you will play every game.’ I said, ‘OK.’”
Mane’s decision to join Liverpool was heavily influenced by Klopp’s vision and the promise of a significant role in the team. Despite interest from other Premier League giants, Mane felt a strong connection with Klopp’s style and philosophy, which mirrored his experiences at Salzburg. This alignment, coupled with Klopp’s assurance of regular playtime, convinced Mane to choose Liverpool over Tottenham and Manchester United.
Mane’s tenure at Liverpool was marked by success, contributing significantly to the club’s achievements, including winning the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 and currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.
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