Sadio Mane on the moment he decided to turn down Manchester United for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool
Sadio Mane has recalled how Jurgen Klopp persuaded him to reject Manchester United for Liverpool. The Senegalese forward won every major honour during his time with the Reds as he established himself as an Anfield legend with 120 goals and 38 assists from 269 appearances after arriving from Southampton in 2016.
At the time, Mane was wanted by Tottenham, then managed by Mauricio Pochettino, as well as Liverpool and United. He came incredibly close to joining the latter, holding extensive talks and even agreeing a deal to sign for the Red Devils.
However, everything changed when Klopp, who almost signed Mane when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund, picked up the phone. He told Rio Ferdinand’s Presents show: “Klopp called me. He apologised [that the Dortmund move didn’t materialise].
“He said, ‘We will build a team no one wants to play against and you will play every game.’” United legend Ferdinand responded: “That’s the killer line, that one [about playing every game].”
Mane continued: “At the time, that was the kind of project I wanted because he said we would make a strong team and I would play every game.”
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He wasn’t initially convinced by Klopp’s claim, pointing out he had the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino in his squad. He added: “He [Klopp] said, ‘No, you will play every game.’ I said, I don’t want to know anymore, I want to come.”
Mane didn’t get the same reassurance from United’s manager at the time, Louis van Gaal. He said: “I was talking to Van Gaal. He called me. He said, ‘How are you? I want you to come to Manchester United. I know you are a good player and you can help the team.’
“I said, ‘You have [Wayne] Rooney, you have [Memphis] Depay, you have [Angel] Di Maria, you have [Robin] Van Persie. Where am I going to play?’ That was my question because I want to play.
“He said, ‘I know your talent. If you train good, you will play but we have other good players.’ So I was not convinced. A few days later, Klopp called me.”
Mane previously told Jamie Carragher in an interview for The Telegraph: “I was really close to going to Manchester United. I had the contract there.
“I had it all agreed. It was all ready, but instead I thought, ‘No, I want to go to Liverpool.’ I was convinced to go with Klopp’s project.”
Mane, 33, left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 but spent just a season with the German giants before joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, where Cristiano Ronaldo is one of his team-mates.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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