3 weeks ago
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Sadio Mane chose to join Tottenham over Manchester United but ended up joining Liverpool after a phone call from Jurgen Klopp.
Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has revealed how close he was to joining Tottenham Hotspur before changing his mind and signing for Liverpool.
The Senegal international caught the eye with his performances in the Premier League with Southampton between 2014 and 2016. He eventually arrived at Anfield for a fee of £34 million.
But the player himself has now opened up on the drama and decisions that went on behind the scenes around the transfer. The winger was in talks with three clubs, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Mane has revealed the reasons behind his decision to turn down both United and Tottenham.
He said: “(Louis) Van Gaal called me. He said, ‘Mané, how are you? What are you doing? How is…?’ I said, ‘I’m good.’ He said, ‘I want you to come to Manchester United.’
“I said, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘OK. Now I'm talking to my agent. 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 better players.’
“And then I said, ‘OK, so my question: you have (Memphis) Depay, you have (Wayne) Rooney, you have (Angel) Di Maria, you have (Robin) Van Persie, I think the same. 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. And a few days after, the club called me. So I was waiting with my agent and my family. I talked to the coach, but he told me that I will play if I'm good; if not… 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, ‘OK, we’ll see.’ Because maybe Tottenham, I have a meeting with Tottenham. At the same time, (Mauricio) Pochettino called him. He said, ‘I want to have Sadio to come to Tottenham training ground.’ And then I go to Tottenham training ground one week after. And I was… I see the facility, I meet the coach, I talk to him.
“And I was more convinced than the Man United project. Because Man U was too many… the problem was too many big players.”
It was a call from then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp that changed his decision.
Mane added: “And the time Klopp was in Dortmund, in the second season in Salzburg, he wanted me. Because the way Salzburg play and the way they defend, the pressure was unbelievable at the time. And exactly, Dortmund was playing in the same style.
“Pressing, pressing, pressing. And at the same time, I met Klopp. He wanted to bring me to Dortmund, but it didn't work out. So when he was in Liverpool, and I was also making my way, I go to Southampton. And that was… ‘OK, we meet again.’
“He called me. He said, ‘Listen, it didn't work out. It was my fault. So what do you think? We work again or…’
“….. And then I go to meet Pochettino. I say, ‘OK, so make sure you agree with my agent, everything. I will come to Tottenham.’ And I come back home, three days after, Klopp called me. I say, ‘This is my Klopp. This is the right… this is what I want.’
“I say, ‘I give you my word. Make sure, some clubs want me, but no, I’m coming there.’
“And at the time Liverpool was even not Champions League; Tottenham was playing Champions League.”
Ferdinand asked: “But is this because of Klopp? Or not because of Liverpool? It was just because Klopp, the way he was going to coach you?”
Sane replied: “Klopp called me. First of all, I say, ‘Coach…’ He said, 'How are you? It was my fault, you didn’t come to Dortmund. Because, you know, I wanted to come there. I met him first. I was not happy.' And he apologised for this.
“And he said, ‘We will build the team no one wants to play against. And then, if we grow up together, you will play every game.’
“So when he said this, that time I went to this kind of project I wanted. Because he said, ‘We will make a strong team, and you will play every game.’ I said, ‘OK.’
“So my agent said, ‘But you have (Philippe) Coutinho, he was playing left.’ And (Roberto) Firmino was there. Daniel Sturridge was also there, I said. He said, ‘No, you will play every game.’
“I said, ‘OK. Make sure, I don’t want to know anything. I just want to come. The salary, everything, I don’t care. I just want to come. Just make sure you agree with Southampton; I will come.’”
Mane went on to make 269 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 120 goals and providing 46 assists. He left the club for Bayern Munich in 2022, and is now playing with Saudi side Al-Nassr.
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