Mane insists he respects Liverpool after suggesting Senegalese people can decide his future

By Sports Desk June 05, 2022

Sadio Mane insists he respects Liverpool but remained non-committal on his future amid links to Bayern Munich.

The Liverpool forward has been strongly linked to the Bundesliga champions, and suggested he would reveal his future following the Reds' Champions League final with Real Madrid last week.

Mane offered little clarity on his future after the defeat to Madrid, but then suggested his preference lies away from the Premier League by saying he will let the Senegalese people decide his next destination.

"Isn't it between 60 to 70 per cent of Senegalese want me to leave Liverpool? I will do what they want. We will see soon," he said while away on international duty.

But after becoming Senegal's record scorer with a hat-trick against Benin on Saturday, Mane backtracked on his comments as he expressed his admiration for Liverpool.

"I spoke while joking with a bit of humour and it was everywhere. I think we'll stop there," he told Canal Plus.

"Liverpool is a club I respect a lot. The fans adopted me since day one. Regarding the future, we'll see."

 

Mane played 51 games for Liverpool in the 2021-22 season – only 10 players across Europe's top five leagues appeared more often – finding the net 23 times and assisting two more.

That has led to interest from Bayern, but undoubtedly most of Europe's elite clubs would be interested should Mane become available.

Real Madrid and Barcelona could be among potential contenders for the Senegal international's signature, but he was unable to pick between the pair when asked who he generally favoured and was quick to point instead towards his support for Marseille.

"You know, you've got me in trouble with the Liverpool fans right now but hey," he told reporters.

"Those two teams [Madrid and Barca] are not bad. But I'm not a fan of those teams. You know, my team is Marseille, so I would say Marseille."

Related items

  • Bisseck signs Inter contract extension to 2029 Bisseck signs Inter contract extension to 2029

    Yann Bisseck has signed a new contract extension with Inter until 2029.

    The defender joined the club in July 2023 from AGF for around €7million and has since made 32 appearances in all competitions.

    His initial deal would keep him at Inter until 2028, but the 23-year-old has signed a one-year contract extension.

    Bisseck has played 11 times for Inter so far this term, including all four of their Champions League matches, making the second-most blocks (four) and the most interceptions (five) among his team-mates in the competition.

    "I feel that the club has confidence in me, as does the coach: everyone has contributed to this renewal, and I'm happy with the progress I've made. I think this deal is a positive moment for everyone," he told InterTV.

    "There are many things I can still improve. I'm not a perfect player, but I'm still young and there are many aspects that I still need to work on, especially from a tactical and mental point of view.

    "Technically and physically, I've reached a good level. I think my mentality will be key to my future growth."

  • Clarendon College, Manchester, Dinthill Technical and Cornwall College through to quarterfinals of Ben Francis Cup Clarendon College, Manchester, Dinthill Technical and Cornwall College through to quarterfinals of Ben Francis Cup

    Seven-time champions Cornwall College and Manchester High survived penalty kicks to advance to the quarter-finals of the ISSA Ben Francis Cup, where they will be joined by Clarendon College and Denbigh High.

    Cornwall College came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw against Happy Grove High before winning 5-4 on penalties at Drax Hall, the same margin that Manchester High beat Dinthill Technical by after they played out a 2-2 draw at Wembley Centre of Excellence.

    Clarendon College beat Kemps Hill High 3-1 in their all-Clarendon derby at Foga Road, while Denbigh High were 2-0 winners over Alphansus Davis High at Brooks Park.

    The winners will await the four teams that fail to advance past the daCosta Cup quarter-finals for the next round of the Ben Francis Cup, which will be played on November 21st.

  • Ranieri turned down offers before Roma retirement U-turn Ranieri turned down offers before Roma retirement U-turn

    Claudio Ranieri revealed he has turned down offers from other clubs since his retirement before answering Roma's call to be their new manager.

    Ranieri announced his retirement at the end of last season after guiding Cagliari to Serie A safety, but after Roma sacked their second manager this season, the 73-year-old agreed on Thursday to take charge until the end of the campaign.

    It is Ranieri's third spell as manager of Roma, the club where he began his playing career, and the Rome native will remain in a senior management role once his coaching term ends.

    Across his previous two spells, Ranieri managed 96 games in all competitions, registering 53 wins, with a win percentage of 55.21%.

    "I had stopped coaching, I have had more requests in recent months than when I won the league title with Leicester City," Ranieri told a press conference.

    "I have always said no. I said only in two cases can I return to coaching, either for Roma or Cagliari, if something went wrong.

    "I was convinced to have gone my own way, but fate wanted me to return home. I began at Roma as a player and I will finish there as an executive."

    Ranieri has no interest in what has gone wrong for Roma this season, in which Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric have been dismissed.

    "There are a thousand reasons, and honestly I don't care," he said.

    "If I go looking at what happened yesterday, I won't achieve anything. I was given carte blanche and I have to do my best with these players. From now on, I am the one in charge.

    "Changing two managers by November isn't easy for anyone, one wants to play in a certain manner, one wants to play another way, so there is a bit of an electroshock. That's normal."

    Paulo Dybala's absence against Bologna led to speculation that it had more to do with his contract's automatic renewal clause on reaching a certain percentage of appearances than with the Argentine forward's physical fitness.

    The Argentinian has made 12 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring twice in Serie A, including the only goal in their last win at the end of October.

    Ranieri showed he means business when he revealed the conversation he had with Roma President Dan Friedkin.

    "It's the first thing I asked the president," Ranieri said.

    "I told him 'I do as I please, I don't want to know if he has clauses or not'.

    "You can see that when Dybala is well he makes the difference. I wish he could always play, but he won't."

    Ranieri's first game comes after the international break when Roma take on league leaders Napoli.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.