Sadio Mane has revealed that a phone call from Jurgen Klopp convinced him to reject Manchester United and join Liverpool, despite having already agreed a deal with the Red Devils. The Senegalese forward, who scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for the Reds, said Klopp's project was too compelling to turn down.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube show, Mane recalled the moment Klopp contacted him after his move to Borussia Dortmund fell through. "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,'" Mane explained. The 'play every game' line struck a chord, with Manchester United legend Ferdinand calling it a "killer" pitch.
Mane acknowledged he initially doubted Klopp's promise, pointing to the attacking talent already at Liverpool, including Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino. "He said, 'No, you will play every game.' I said, I don't want to know anymore, I want to come," Mane added.
In contrast, a similar approach from United manager Louis van Gaal failed to reassure him. Mane said Van Gaal told him he was a good player who could help the team, but when Mane asked where he would fit in alongside Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay, Angel Di Maria and Robin van Persie, Van Gaal only replied that he would play if he trained well. "So I was not convinced. A few days later, Klopp called me," Mane said.
Mane left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 before joining Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. His decision to choose Liverpool over United proved successful, as he won every major honour at Anfield, including the Premier League and Champions League.
