Sadio Mane REJECTS pleas from former Liverpool teammates to join their teams in Saudi Arabia ahead of his move to Al-Nassr
- Many former Premier League stars have left for Saudi Arabia this summer
- Roberto Firmino and Fabinho were eager to rejoin Sadio Mane
- Mane has now revealed why Cristiano Ronaldo held the key to his Saudi move
Sadio Mane turned down the chance to reunite with some of his former Liverpool teammates and opted to join forces with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
Mane left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in a move that didn’t work for the German club or the player, and Thomas Tuchel was content enough to let him go this summer.
Despite his troubles at Bayern, Mane remains a man in demand and he soon found his phone ringing red hot with a number of former teammates taking their clubs’ bids.
“I spoke to (Roberto) Firmino and I think he wanted me to come to the wrong club… I’m kidding!” Moons laughed. “He called two or three times to convince me to come to Al-Ahli…
“At the same time, I spoke to Fabinho because he was quite close to me and he also wanted me to come to Al-Ittihad, but I chose Al-Nassr.”
Sadio Mane (left) teams up with Cristiano Ronaldo following his move to Al-Nassr
Roberto Firmino (left, at Liverpool) and Fabinho (right) both tried to recruit Mane, having themselves made the move to the Saudi Pro League earlier this summer.
Mane also added that he had received well wishes from another former teammate, Jordan Henderson.
“Of course Henderson is here too, and he messaged me two days ago to wish me the best of luck and I’m excited to meet all these great guys and also to meet them in person for the first time,” he said. “I’m going to beat you!”
The chance to play with Ronaldo proved too attractive an option to turn down and the winger has signed a contract with Al-Nassr that runs until 2027, earning him £650,000 a week.
Given his own success at Anfield, there must have been some temptation to join some of his former teammates.
Mane enjoyed a hugely successful spell at Liverpool after joining from Southampton in 2016.
He scored 120 goals in 269 appearances for Liverpool and won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, as well as the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Along with Firmino, he was part of a devastating three-pronged attack that also involved Mohamed Salah.
Now he is in Saudi Arabia, but speaking of leaving Bayern, Mane said Sky Sports: ‘Leaving FC Bayern hurts me. I wished for a different ending.
“I know I could have helped the team this season. I wanted to prove it to everyone this season.
“However, I wish the club and the fans only the best for the future.”
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