Sadio Mane reveals Manchester United transfer rejection before Liverpool move | OneFootball

Premier League legend scored 111 goals in England’s top flight

Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has revealed that he held discussions with Manchester United before moving to Anfield.

The Senegal international became a Premier League legend in his time at the Reds, moving to Merseyside in 2016.

Before that, Mane had made his mark in England at Southampton, joining the Saints from RB Salzburg.

Liverpool weren’t the only side keen on the winger’s services, and Louis van Gaal, United’s manager at the time, rang Mane to register his interest.

“I was talking to van Gaal that time. [Wayne] Rooney was there. And [Angel] Di Maria was there, [Memphis] Depay was there.

“When they failed to get me, they bought [Anthony] Martial. Van Gaal called me and he said, ‘Mane, how are you? What are you doing? I want you to come to Manchester United’.

“I said, ‘Really?’, and he replied, 'Yeah’.

“I said, ‘Ok. Now I'm talking to my agent.’

“[Van Gaal said] ‘We'll see what is best, because I know you are a good player and you can help the team, and we can help you also to become a better player.'”

Mane explained that his concern at Old Trafford would have been game time, with United already boasting star names in every position in the final third.

“I said, ‘Ok, so my question. You have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Di Maria, you have van Persie. Where am I going to play?’ That was my question, because I want to play.

“He said, ‘I know your talent, you are good. But if you do good training, good impression, you will play. But we have another player who is also good.’

“I was not convinced by his explanation. I talked to the coach, but he told me that I will play if I am good. But at the time, I was not ready, I was young.

“I still needed someone to help me more. One or two more years to become what I want to be.

“I was still at Southampton. I was not consistent. Then we said, ‘Ok, we will see.'”

Mane would then move to Liverpool for a £34million fee, becoming the most expensive African player at the time.

He then moved to Bayern for £35m in 2022, but he stayed for just one year, leaving for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia the following summer.