Sadio Mané reveals he turned down Manchester United before signing for Liverpool
The Senegalese forward reflected on the behind-the-scenes of his 2016 transfer, saying he turned down Louis van Gaal’s approach before joining the Reds, where he would enjoy one of the best periods of his career.
Sadio Mané, attaquant sénégalais@senenews
Al Nassr forward Sadio Mané revealed he turned down an offer from Manchester United before joining Liverpool in 2016. At the time highly sought after following his standout performances for Southampton, the Senegalese ultimately opted for the Reds in a transfer reportedly worth £30 million.
A guest on the show Rio Ferdinand Presents, Mané revisited that defining chapter of his career, explaining that the sporting assurances offered by Louis van Gaal didn’t fully convince him. « Manchester United had contacted me at the time; I had spoken with van Gaal. Rooney was there, Di María was there, Depay was there », says the former Red. According to him, his refusal even led the Manchester club to turn to Anthony Martial: « When they couldn’t get me, they bought Martial. »
Sadio Mané ultimately played 269 matches for Liverpool, scoring 120 goals, before leaving Anfield for Bayern Munich in 2022.