Real Madrid made no secret of their admiration for Liverpool livewire Sadio Mane. It wouldn’t have come as a surprise had the Senegalese attacker left Anfield for the Spanish capital at some point. But scrub any thoughts of Mane switching to the Bernabeu any time soon with the news that he has signed a new deal with the Reds, said to be worth in the region of £150,000 a week. Given his potency and the way in which he links up with his team-mates no one will grudge Sane earning such a handsome reward for his efforts for the Kop giants.
And it seems Sane is ready to redouble his efforts for the cause given his comments once the new deal — said to be keeping Mane at the Merseyside outfit until at least 2023 — had been revealed. And remember, this is on the back of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp getting both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino to put pen to paper on new five-year contracts.
Sane told the official Liverpool website:
“I am very happy, very happy to extend my time at Liverpool. It is a great day for me and now I am looking forward to helping the team to win trophies. I’ve always said, when I knew I had a chance to come here I didn’t have to think twice. The right club in the right moment and with the right coach as well. I came here and was very happy. For me, I have made the best decision in my career.”
It almost goes without saying the Klopp is delighted that he has extended Sane’s time at the club. And there is even a palpable element of relief in Klopp’s comments on the deal — with one eye very much on the suitors who were circling around Mane, hopeful of luring him away from the Reds.
Klopp knows full well that signing Sane also sends a message out the powerhouses of Europe that Liverpool are not a selling club, reversing the perception held when they allowed Philippe Coutinho to join Barcelona in January in a deal that could rise to as much as £142million.
Klopp said:
“he couldn’t think of a “single club anywhere in Europe that wouldn’t want a player like Sadio available to them, so the fact he wants to remain with us says something about where we are currently”.
He added:
“He is a such an important member of our team and squad. He radiates joy and I think this is reflected in his performances and impact on the pitch. The only criticism I could ever have of Sadio is that maybe at times he is the only one not to see just how good he is — but as an attacking player he is the complete package.
“Maybe the other thing which is lost on some who don’t know Sadio is just how ambitious and hungry he is to achieve things and be successful. He is more driven than I think many will be aware of.”