Former Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko believes that current Reds attacker Sadio Mane will make the move to Real Madrid in the near future, claiming that he is a player who would be greatly desired by Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane.
The ex-Mali international was speaking to Italian media outlet Europa Calcio when he claimed that Mane was more likely to depart Merseyside for Madrid than fellow Anfield-based African forward Mohamed Salah, saying: “I do not know if Salah will stay at Liverpool. If he left, it could also be a good thing for Liverpool – they are a clever club and they would know how to replace him. I think Mane is likelier to, because he has the characteristics that Zidane wants – he really rates him. I think Mane will go to Real Madrid.”
Sissoko’s claims are not totally without foundation – earlier this month, The Mirror reported that Real Madrid have indeed been targeting Mane as a potential summer signing, claiming that Zidane is a “huge admirer” of the 27-year-old. The report added that the Reds could be tempted to sell the Senegal attacker if the La Liga club submit a bid of £130m-£140m for him.
There is plenty of previous when it comes to Real Madrid helping themselves to Liverpool’s prized assets. As far back as 1999, they enticed Steve McManaman to Spain on a free transfer, with Michael Owen making the same journey five years later. In 2009, the Spanish club brought Xabi Alonso back to his native land after the midfielder excelled on Merseyside.
However, whereas Liverpool finished a lowly seventh and fourth in the seasons prior to the departures of McManaman and Owen respectively, they are now on course to win a first Premier League title in 30 years and lifted the Champions League crown last summer. Therefore, Mane is already at a club where big prizes have been won and more look set to follow, with the 27-year-old playing a major part in those by scoring four goals in the Reds’ triumphant European campaign in 2018/19 and 14 so far in this season’s Premier League.
Also, he is a player who is demonstrably valued highly by Klopp, given his consistently high frequency of appearances for Liverpool. Having started 26 and 28 league games in his first two years at Anfield, that figure increased to 35 last season and he has already racked up another 24 league starts in the current campaign.
Mane is a hugely valued presence at a club riding the crest of a wave, so despite Sissoko’s premonition of a move to Real Madrid, there seems a good chance that the Senegalese attacker will recognise that he has enough going for him in his career to justify staying put at Liverpool.
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