Sadio Mane’s Near Miss with Manchester United
Manchester United and their supporters often reflect with frustration when hearing Sadio Mane’s name. The forward, who memorably dazzled for Liverpool, had initially agreed to move to Old Trafford in 2016. Impressing in his stint with Southampton, Mane seemed set to join the Red Devils, until a pivotal phone call from Jurgen Klopp altered the course. Mane, currently with Al Nassr, instead opted for Liverpool in a £36 million deal, leaving United to sign alternative players like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and allowing Mane to become a standout star at Anfield.
Mane’s time at Liverpool was laden with trophies, securing the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup over six prolific years. He acknowledged his initial lean towards United before Klopp swayed him. Recalling Klopp’s influential call, Mane was captivated by Liverpool’s ambitious project, choosing to play on the right despite his preference for the left, which was occupied by Philippe Coutinho. His departure in 2022 to Bayern Munich, where he briefly filled in the void left by Robert Lewandowski, ended disappointingly, leading him to seek new ventures.
Currently, Mane earns a substantial income with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and despite rumors linking him back to Liverpool and RB Salzburg, his agent has dismissed these speculations, confirming Mane’s commitment to his Middle Eastern club. The club has expressed satisfaction with his performance, with Mane’s future seemingly secured at Al Nassr. However, his legacy and ties remain threaded through his earlier clubs and the memories cherished by their fans.
