Sadio Mane once contemplated the possibility of a move to Newcastle, famously quoting, "never say never" when asked about it.
The idolized former Liverpool player, now plying his trade at Al-Nassr, had even acknowledged that he had an agreement with Manchester United before ultimately choosing to head for Merseyside. Mane, who is 33 now, cemented his status as a Liverpool legend following his transfer from Southampton in 2016 for £34 million ($45.66).
He was prolific during his time at Anfield, netting 120 goals and laying on 46 assists over six seasons. He was pivotal in Jurgen Klopp's team, seizing the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup titles for Liverpool.
His shift to Bayern Munich in 2022 for an upfront fee of £27M ($33.3M) was indeed a blow to the Premier League. However, less than a year after leaving, speculation mounted over a potential return.
Mane's stint with the German giants was plagued by injury woes pre-World Cup in Qatar and rumors of a spat with teammate Leroy Sane, making his swift exit at season end less shocking.
In the midst of this tumultuous period, he encountered Martin Callanan, a Conservative life peer from the House of Lords hailing from Newcastle. Callanan was attending an EITI International conference in Senegal, Mane's homeland.
Sadio Mane of Al Nassr celebrates with teammate Otavio
Sadio Mane is currently at Al Nassr (Image: Getty Images)
He encouraged Mane to consider a move to the Magpies, revealing in a subsequent tweet: "I'm in Senegal speaking at the EITI conference. Honored to meet Sadio Mane in the hotel. I couldn't resist asking him about coming to Newcastle next season. His enigmatic reply: 'Never say never!'"
Whether Mane was simply being polite or genuinely considering Newcastle as a potential destination remains unclear, but he didn't make the switch to St James' Park. Instead, he opted for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, where he's had a hand in 62 goals across 93 matches.
Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane has hero status at Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
While some players who have moved to the Middle East are often criticized for prioritizing financial gain, Mane's impressive tally indicates that he's still very much committed to his game. And his cryptic response to Callahan suggests that a return to the Premier League might not be entirely out of the question, unlike many who wind down their careers on Saudi soil.
Yet, given his age and the remaining year on his contract, the prospect of Mane transferring to Tyneside seems increasingly unlikely, now possibly falling into the "never" category. Although he may still find the idea appealing, it's doubtful that Newcastle would reciprocate the interest – despite rumors of a possible departure from Al-Nassr this summer.