Mane reveals he snubbed Man Utd deal to join Liverpool — and never ruled out a Premier League return

Sadio Mane once had a transfer to Manchester United all but signed and sealed before a conversation with Jürgen Klopp changed everything — and the Senegalese forward later suggested his time in English football might not be entirely finished.

The 34-year-old, now in his third season at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, made the revelation in a 2022 interview with The Telegraph. “I was really close to going to Manchester United. I had the contract there,” Mane said. “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. I still remember the first time I got the call from Klopp. He said, ‘We have a big project at Liverpool and I want you to be part of it.’” The move from Southampton to Anfield in 2016 proved transformative for both player and club.

Former United manager Louis van Gaal, who left Old Trafford shortly after winning the FA Cup that same summer, confirmed the club’s interest. “Sadio Mane is a true team player and this is the reason why I really wanted to sign him,” Van Gaal told Dutch broadcaster NOS in 2022. “These are difficult players to play against.”

Mane went on to spend six years at Liverpool, winning the Premier League and the Champions League under Klopp before joining Bayern Munich in 2022. His time in Germany proved difficult, fuelling speculation about his next destination.

It was during that unsettled period at Bayern that Conservative life peer Lord Callanan — a Newcastle United supporter — encountered Mane at a conference in Senegal and asked whether a move to St James’ Park might be on the cards. Mane’s response, posted on X by Lord Callanan, was characteristically non-committal: “Never say never.”

Mane ultimately chose Al-Nassr over a Premier League return that summer, and has since scored 51 goals in 129 appearances for the Riyadh club. He is currently focused on Senegal’s World Cup campaign, with his side having faced France in a group that also includes Norway and Iraq.