Liverpool star Sadio Mane joined the club in 2016 but the Senegalese said he thought that after Southampton, his next stop would be at the Old Trafford. But Jurgen Klopp came calling and the striker went on to win the 2019 Champions League title with the Reds.
His amazing run in the past season catapulted Mane to football stardom. The Reds dominated the Ballon d'Or nomination that was eventually awarded to Lionel Messi. But the whole world knew Mane was mere points away from winning the honor, and all these good things are happening since the jump to Anfield.
Mane said that before his deal with Klopp, it seemed remote to him that a Liverpool offer would come by. For him, the more realistic next destination is Manchester United.
"We were thinking most about Manchester United. That was a tough time for me as I was on the bench so I was not thinking about anyone calling me, but I was pleased he [Klopp] did and was not thinking I was a rapper," Mirror reported Mane as saying.
The "rapper" reference was said in jest because of the German boss' first encounter with the younger Mane. Then the head coach for Borussia Dortmund, Klopp waived off the Senegal native, concluding the latter looked more like a rapper than a player.
Interviewed in the "Made in Senegal" documentary, the Liverpool coach revealed that he refused to sign Mane because of a bad call.
"It was in Dortmund. There was a really young guy sitting there. His baseball cap was askew, the blond streak he still has today... he looked like a rapper just starting out," Metro reported the German as saying.
Right then, Klopp said to himself: "I don't have time for this."
He admitted though that it was a mistake dismissing the younger Mane abruptly. Klopp explained that for Dortmund then, he was looking for a player to develop and he might have overlooked the potentials that came with the Senegalese.
Klopp, however, corrected the mistake by taking a second look at Mane, who later ended up in the Premier League and flourished in Southampton. There, the striker made his mark and Klopp realized that he nearly missed the boat on a gem like Mane.
"I have a pretty good feeling for people, but I was wrong. I followed his further career and continuing success in Salzburg. In Southampton he just dominated," the German said.
For the Reds, Mane is now considered a core member of the roster and his quality has been noticed by giants clubs in Europe. He has been linked with a transfer to Real Madrid but Klopp said that for now, he is happy that Mane wants to continue working with him.
