Sadio Mane has made a mammoth statement over Real Madrid’s interest.
Fast forward after Liverpool had lost their Champions League final last season, there were rumours murmuring about Zidane’s desire to pursuit Sadio Mane. The Frenchman decided to back out from the job three days after the historic triumph and the rumours started to rumble following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, and persisted even more after the failure to land the first choice target Eden Hazard.
The Senegal International had an impressive season by finding the back of the net on 26 times this term, including the wonder goal against Bayern Munich to leave Manuel Neuer to death. With Zidane back in the helm once more, the likeliest has started to make noise again – rumours about Real Madrid’s interest on Sadio Mane.
The 27-year-old signed a five-year deal with the club in 2018 and said it was the ‘best decision to make in his career’. There is no doubt that a player of Sadio Mane’s calibre is wanted by many clubs across Europe, but he firmly believes in the management of Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds, despite procuring 97 points missed out on the Premier League title. The Senegalese International has claimed that that agony serves as an extra motivation to clinch the Champions League in Madrid.
The Liverpool forward said: “This is always part of football so we have to deal with it but for me the most important thing is Liverpool and I’m happy here. I’m preparing for one of the biggest games for the club and the fans and the players as well so let’s focus on this one first and win it. It’s always a pleasure that this kind of team wants you but don’t forget Liverpool. We beat big teams.”
Mane believes the manner of defeat in Kyiv 12 months before ago can help Klopp’s side as favourites. He adds on that the whole squad is fresh ahead of the Champions League final.
“I think it’s incredible [to be in another final] and I’m so positive. We know we have targets – we wanted to win the league and the Champions League. We didn’t win the league but we still have one trophy to play for so we are going to try to give everything to win it. Everybody’s ready to win.
“We would have loved to win the league but we have to take it as a positive. It will give us more motivation.”
“I think we learned a lot from that final and now we can use our experience to get what we want,” he said. “Every time it makes it easier. We know how to deal with this kind of situation now.”
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What’s next?
Liverpool will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final at Madrid on June 1.
