Published 13:57 IST, April 9th 2020
Sadio Mane reveals he was on the cusp of Man United move before joining Liverpool
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has opened up on how a failed first encounter with Jurgen Klopp at Dortmund almost made him join arch-rivals Manchester United.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
Liverpool winger Sadio Mane admitted that he was thinking of a move to Man United before joining Liverpool in the summer of 2016. In the newly released Sadio Mane documentary, 'Made in Senegal', Reds manager Jurgen Klopp revealed the dreadful first encounter between the pair at Dortmund. The Liverpool attacker has achieved considerable success during his time at Anfield but was close to signing for Man United when Louis van Gaal was in charge of the Red Devils.
Jurgen Klopp in Sadio Mane documentary 'Made in Senegal'
The 72-minute Sadio Mane documentary 'Made in Senegal' is narrated by the 27-year-old Liverpool forward as he explains his journey from a small village in Africa and his meteoric rise in the Premier League, In the recently released Sadio Mane documentary which also features the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool head coach explains a grim encounter between the pair at Borussia Dortmund. Klopp believed that Sadio Mane was a 'rapper' when he played for Red Bull Salzburg due to his angled baseball hat and blonde streak. Klopp admitted that he is usually quite good at reading people but misread his first experience with Mane.
Sadio Mane reveals thinking of Man United move
Having been snubbed by Jurgen Klopp earlier in his career, Sadio Mane was keen on making a statement in the Premier League. His impressive displays for Southampton attracted interest from suitors in the Premier League including Man United and Liverpool. At the time, Louis van Gaal was head coach of Man United and Mane lifted the lid on his thoughts of joining the red side of Manchester. While speaking to The Times, Mane explained that his agent and himself were thinking of a move to join Man United after Klopp was appointed at the helm at Liverpool. Mane even met up with Louis van Gaal and an offer from Man United was on the table in his final season with the Saints
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Fortunately, for Klopp and Mane, the pair were eager to work with each other. In the summer of 2016, Liverpool splashed a transfer fee of £34 million ($42m) to sign Mane from south coast club Southampton. Ever since joining Liverpool, Mane has scored an impressive 77 goals in 161 appearances across all competitions also playing a massive part in the club winning the Champions League last season.
Updated 13:57 IST, April 9th 2020