For the umpteenth time, Sadio Mane was completely justifying the expectations of Jurgen Klopp. Yet all the German wanted to do was punch himself. The sight of the Senegalese tearing up another defence served only to remind Klopp what might have been had he not erred on the side of caution in the summer of 2014. Having tracked Mane’s progress since an impressive showing in the 2012 Olympics, the then Borussia Dortmund boss held talks with the RB Salzburg player over a possible move to the Westfalenstadion.
Jurgen Klopp said: “I made a mistake. We met each other, we talked but by the end I didn’t feel it. I like the player, it was more of a feeling. His baseball cap was askew, the blond streak he still has today. He looked like a rapper just starting out. I thought, ‘I don’t have time for this’. I’d say I have a pretty good feeling for people, but was I wrong! At Dortmund we could only get one player for this position, not two or three, so it needed to be exactly the right fit in this moment. About three months later I would have punched myself, so I already knew that the next chance I have, I would take it.”
But when such an opportunity arrived two years later with Klopp preparing to stamp his authority with a first summer transfer market in the Liverpool hotseat, Mane hadn’t been the initial focus of attention.
Jurgen Klopp said: “It was a pretty simple decision with Sadio. When the club came this summer and Michael Edwards said we have an opportunity, there were no talks necessary any more. It was a case of ‘Let’s do it’. Since I came here I have spoken to the staff a lot about him and have always felt he could be a very good signing for us. He would have been more expensive if we had taken him to Dortmund and then he had been sold to Liverpool, so all good for Liverpool. The more I think about it, that was my first Liverpool decision. Nice!”
Southampton, growing tired of regularly having their top talent cherry-picked by the Reds, wanted £40million but, after several weeks of haggling, a £30m deal was agreed. Liverpool could also thank a former manager for setting Mane on his path to Anfield, with Gerard Houllier helping take him to Salzburg from struggling Metz. But for the player, Klopp was the main influence over his move north.
Sadio Mane said: I spoke with him and I think he played a big role in me coming to Liverpool and I want to thank him for all the confidence. He said he wanted me to come and I didn’t try to ask myself questions as I was convinced Liverpool was the right club for me. It is the right club, right coach and right moment to change.”
Mane’s performances during pre-season had prompted quiet excitement, not least a goal in the 4-0 friendly win over Barcelona at Wembley. But nobody was quite expecting the calling card the Senegalese delivered on his competitive debut with a thrilling run and shot into the top corner at the Emirates against Arsenal. Even his manager got carried away.
Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s not allowed to celebrate a fourth goal when there’s still 30 minutes to go. I knew it in the moment that I shouldn’t celebrate but it was too late, I had Sadio on my back!”
Liverpool held on to win 4-3 and it was an indicator of what was to come for both the player and the team that campaign.
