Manchester United have missed out on some quality players over the past few years, with Sadio Mane now joining that list.
If Manchester United had signed the players they wanted to instead of who had been signed over the past 15 years, there might not have been such a long period of struggle.
David Moyes missed out on Cesc Fabregas and Gareth Bale, two additions which would have completely transformed the Red Devils side in 2013.
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Meanwhile Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, two stars who have gone on to be world beaters at Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Now, it has emerged Louis van Gaal also fumbled one major signing.
Sadio Mane in action for Liverpool against Manchester United.
Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
Sadio Mane reveals why he rejected Manchester United
United’s transfer failures were often frustrating as it saw the club miss out on players who later went on to star and Sadio Mane fits this mould.
Speaking on the Rio Meets YouTube show alongside Rio Ferdinand, Mane has now shed light on this situation, explaining that he was approached by United but Van Gaal ruined it.
“Van Gaal called me and he said, ‘Mane, how are you? What are you doing?’ He said, ‘I want you to come to Manchester United.’ Okay, now I’m talking to my agent”, Mane explained.
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“[Van Gaal said], ‘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 a better player.
“And then I said, ‘Okay, so my question: you have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Di María, you have Van Persie … 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.
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“But at the time, me, I was not ready, I can say. I was young. I still needed someone to help me more. And one or two more years to become what I want to be. Because I was still in Southampton, I was not consistent. And then we said, ‘Okay, we’ll see.’”
Mane then concluded with a final verdict that United had too many big names for him to join.
“Because Man U was too many … the problem was too many big players.”
How good Sadio Mane went on to be for Liverpool should haunt Manchester United
The star names listed by Mane are high profile, however, none had the impact of the Senegalese winger in his time at Anfield.
Angel di Maria left after one year, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney also left.
Mane did add to Ferdinand that United moved for Anthony Martial after missing out on him.
“I was talking to Van Gaal at that time. Rooney was there. And Di María was there … and Depay was there. When they failed to get me, they bought [Anthony] Martial.”
Mane made 269 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 120 times and assisting 46, which is much more than any United player in this time-frame.
As much as Martial was great, Mane would have been even better.