According to a recent report by The Athletic’s James Pearce, the Liverpool chiefs are confident that Sadio Mane is happy with his life at Anfield and still sees his long-term future at the Merseyside club despite recent reports suggesting that he might seal a move to Real Madrid this summer. Pearce has also stated in the same article (subscription required) that there ‘isn’t a more complete player’ than the Senegalese speedster, so the Reds have no reason to cash in on their prized asset this summer.
Mane’s Incredible Form For Liverpool Over The Past 18 Months
Mane has enjoyed a prolific couple of seasons at Anfield after putting in numerous match-winning displays under Jurgen Klopp’s stewardship across all competitions. He shared the Premier League’s golden boot trophy with his teammate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season.
The Sedhiou-born talent has continued to perform at a high level and has even improved his productivity this season. He has banged in 18 goals and provided 12 assists in 38 appearances for the Reds this term on all fronts which has made him a chief contender to win the Premier League’s Player of the Season award.
Mane has averaged 2.3 shots, 1.6 key passes and 2.1 dribbles per game in league football and the UEFA Champions League this season (stats via whoscored). His numbers prove how consistent he has been for the Merseyside giants since the start of this campaign. The ex-Southampton forward has also earned 61 senior caps for the Senegalese national team, scoring 16 goals for his homeland in the process.
What Are The Senegal International’s Best Attributes?
Mane is one of the quickest players in Europe at the moment. He can use his pace and power to get the better of his marker down the wide areas. The Senegalese winger excels at getting to the by-line to either whip in some dangerous crosses for his teammates inside the opposition half or cut inside and fashion a goal-scoring opportunity for himself. He has transformed himself into a lethal finisher in front of goal and is currently playing at the top of his game.
Mane Is Content With Life At Merseyside: Huge Blow For Los Blancos?
A winger of Mane’s quality would have been an ideal signing for Real Madrid this summer as he would have added some much-needed productivity to Zinedine Zidane’s frontline. The likes of Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale have both struggled to get going at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium as frequent injuries have plagued their season so far. Vinicius Junior, Isco and Rodrygo have also shown signs of improvement, but Mane would be a significant upgrade over any of them right now.
The Senegalese wing wizard would have made Los Blancos a real challenger in the UEFA Champions League so missing out on him will be a big blow for Zidane and his long-term ambitions as the Madrid head coach.
