Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane has revealed why he turned down a move to Manchester United in favour of a Liverpool switch.
The Senegal international held talks with the Red Devils in the summer of 2016, while still at Southampton, but opted against a move to Old Trafford and moved to Anfield later that year in a £37million deal.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he told the Liverpool Echo regarding his arrival at the club. “Some teams wanted me – Manchester [United], the wrong team wanted me.
“Of course, I spoke with van Gaal, and they even made an offer. But for me it was not the right club, it was not the right moment to feel this – the right moment, the right coach, the right club.”
OPINION
It certainly seems like Mane made the right decision. Louis van Gaal was, of course, replaced shortly after talks with Mane in 2016 by Jose Mourinho. Since then, flair players seem to have struggled somewhat at Old Trafford. The likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have not flourished to quite the extent they were expected to. It’s possible that had Mane made the move to United that he would’ve ended up like Martial. Instead, he is flourishing alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in one of the most fearsome strike forces in world football. Mane is enjoying his football, and you can see that he loves life on Merseyside from the way he talks about the club. He is a unique talent, one not suited to the regimented style of football being conducted at United under Mourinho. Klopp is the right manager for him, and it appears the 26-year-old recognises that as well. All being well, he should go on to have a tremendous career at Anfield.
