ChatGPT Image Sep 19, 2026, 10_17_03 PM
Manchester United and Liverpool share a strong rivalry, often battling it out on the pitch in fierce games, whilst also often seen battling it out in the transfer window for some of the biggest players.
It's always a tough battle when they go head-to-head in the transfer market, trying to attract the best players to their clubs. In recent years, it has always appeared to be Liverpool who can attract the better players, which is no surprise considering their much better success in recent years.
An instance back in 2016 saw one player decide to join the Reds in Merseyside, and his career could've been a whole lot different had he not picked up the phone to Jurgen Klopp.
Louis van Gaal in action as Manchester United manager
Louis van Gaal in action as Manchester United manager
Sadio Mane's Failed Man United Move
REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Sadio Mane first made the move to the Premier League in 2014, joining Southampton from RB Salzburg. He instantly settled in on the south coast, leading the Saints to European football whilst scoring plenty of goals along the way.
It only took him two seasons at Southampton before big clubs came circling, including Man United and Liverpool.
The winger explained to the Mirror in 2019: "I was really, really close [to a move to Man Utd] because I even met up with them. So I was coming, I was there, and I spoke with the boss who was there before [Van Gaal]."
Louis Van Gaal appeared to have got his man, with a deal looking likely for the Senegalese star to move to Old Trafford. However, he received a phone call from a German in Merseyside, and Mane had his mind swayed.
He said: "They made an offer, but in the same week, Klopp called me. He said: ‘I think it’s the right club. The right coach for you, and I think it’s better that you go to Liverpool’. For me, I think it was the right time as well. I said, ‘I am going to Liverpool.’"
Mane also admitted that Klopp had tried to sign him when he was managing Borussia Dortmund in Germany, but had failed to make the move materialise. Mane continued:
Mane wasn't convinced by Van Gaal after they spoke, with it seemingly looking like there wouldn't be room for him to play at Old Trafford, especially considering the pedigree of players compared to Mane, who was still a young and inconsistent player.
Mane's Liverpool Career & Ballon D'Or Possibility
Salah and Mane
Mane's decision to join Liverpool worked out better than he could've expected. He immediately became a key starter for Klopp, forming a formidable trio with Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah.
During his time at Liverpool, he won a Premier League title, as well as a Champions League. His career could've been so much different had he chosen to follow the words of Van Gaal.
Mane also received multiple nominations for the Ballon d'Or during his time in Merseyside. He left the Reds to join Bayern Munich, a move that didn't prove to be a success, before leaving to join Al-Nassr, where he currently plays.
He is also in the running for the Ballon d'Or this year, with him and Achraf Hakimi being the only two African players to be nominated for the award.