In a stunning football revelation, Sadio Mane has detailed the pivotal moment he abandoned a virtually sealed transfer to Manchester United after a game-changing phone call from Jurgen Klopp.
The Senegalese forward, who became an Anfield legend, was on the brink of joining the Red Devils in 2016 before the Liverpool manager's intervention altered the course of his career.
The phone call that changed everything
Mane has recalled how extensive talks with United had even reached the stage of a contractual agreement. Simultaneously, Tottenham Hotspur, then under Mauricio Pochettino, also expressed strong interest.
Everything shifted when Klopp, who had previously tried to sign Mane during his tenure at Borussia Dortmund, made direct contact. "Klopp called me. He apologised [that the Dortmund move didn't materialise]," Mane explained on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube show.
"He said, 'We will build a team no one wants to play against and you will play every game.'" United legend Ferdinand immediately recognised the significance of this promise, labelling it "the killer line" in negotiations.
Van Gaal's unconvincing proposal
The crucial difference emerged in how the two managers presented their visions. Mane contrasted Klopp's unequivocal guarantee with his conversation with then-United boss Louis van Gaal.
"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,'" Mane recounted.
The forward's response highlighted his primary concern: "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?'"
Van Gaal's reply failed to provide the assurance Mane sought: "He said, 'I know your talent. If you train good, you will play but we have other good players.' So I was not convinced."
From doubt to Anfield legend
Initially sceptical of Klopp's promise of regular football, Mane pointed to Liverpool's existing attacking talent, including Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.
Klopp's response was definitive and persuasive. "He said, 'No, you will play every game.' I said, I don't want to know anymore, I want to come," Mane revealed.
This decision proved transformative. During his six-year Liverpool tenure from 2016 to 2022, Mane scored 120 goals and provided 38 assists in 269 appearances, winning every major honour including the Premier League and Champions League.
Reflecting on his choice in another interview with Jamie Carragher for The Telegraph, Mane confirmed: "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."
The 33-year-old eventually left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 before joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, where he currently plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.
