Al-Nassr winger Sadio Mane has revealed how Jurgen Klopp convinced him to join Liverpool over other Premier League sides like Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in 2016. The Senegal international admitted he enjoyed Klopp's style of play and decided to join Liverpool when the latter vowed to build a formidable team and guaranteed he would feature in every game.
After shining for Salzburg between 2012 and 2014, Sadio Mane joined Southampton. The 33-year-old made a positive impression during his two-year stint with the Saints, including netting the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history in 2015 (176 seconds).
However, in the summer of 2016, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool were keen on acquiring his signature. During an interview with Rio Ferdinand on the YouTube channel, _[Rio Ferdinand Presents](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ3MzNPmCxk&t=2156s)_, Mane delved into why he rejected the Red Devils (via _Football London_):
> “(Louis) Van Gaal called me. He said, ‘Mané, how are you? What are you doing? How is…?’ I said, ‘I’m good.’ He said, ‘I want you to come to Manchester United.' I said, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘OK. Now I'm talking to my agent. We’ll see what is the best, because I know you're a good player and you can help the team, and we can help you also to become better players.’"
He continued:
> “And then I said, ‘OK, so my question: you have (Memphis) Depay, you have (Wayne) Rooney, you have (Angel) Di Maria, you have (Robin) Van Persie, I think the same. 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."
Mane then admitted he even considered joining Spurs, before Klopp's intervention:
> "At the same time, (Mauricio) Pochettino called him. He said, ‘I want to have Sadio to come to Tottenham training ground.’ And then I go to Tottenham training ground one week after. 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.”
He 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.’"
When Ferdinand asked Mane if he chose to join Liverpool because of Klopp's influence or the club itself, the Senegal international replied:
> “Klopp called me. First of all, I say, ‘Coach…’ He said, 'How are you? It was my fault, you didn’t come to Dortmund. Because, you know, I wanted to come there. 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.’"
He added:
> “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.’ So my agent said, ‘But you have (Philippe) Coutinho, he was playing left.’ And (Roberto) Firmino was there. Daniel Sturridge was also there, I said. He said, ‘No, you will play every game.’ I said, ‘OK. Make sure, I don’t want to know anything. I just want to come. The salary, everything, I don’t care. I just want to come. Just make sure you agree with Southampton; I will come.’”
Mane ultimately joined Liverpool on June 28, 2016, for a reported transfer fee of £34 million, making him the most expensive African player in football history at the time.
How did Sadio Mane fare at Liverpool?
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After joining Liverpool on an initial five-year contract, Sadio Mane went on to establish himself as one of the greatest players in the club's history. He formed a formidable trio alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, helping the Reds win their first Premier League title in 30 years.
Mane recorded 120 goals and 46 assists in 269 appearances across all competitions for [Liverpool](https://www.sportskeeda.com/team/liverpool), helping them win six trophies, including the title and UEFA Champions League.
The 33-year-old joined Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022 on a three-year deal. However, he departed the club a year later, joining Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in August 2023.
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Edited by Silas Sud