Sadio Mane explains why he rejected Manchester United in favour of Liverpool

Posted Wednesday, July 27, 2016 by givemesport.com

The £30 million signing of Sadio Mane looks set to be Liverpool's biggest purchase of the summer.

While the Senegal international didn't exactly create the same headlines as Manchester United's signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic - or the saga involving transfer target Paul Pogba - there's no doubting the qualities he will bring to Jurgen Klopp's side.

And, if Liverpool fans were doubting Mane's ability, the player has revealed that he turned down an approach from Jose Mourinho before signing for the Anfield club.

Despite the lure of playing under the Special One and European football, Mane explains his decision to choose Merseyside over Manchester.

"Yes, it was true," Mane said, per the Liverpool Echo, when asked about United's offer.

"There was interest from a lot of clubs, not just Manchester United, but as soon as I knew Liverpool were interested I just felt it was the right club with the right coach. It was right for me to come here.

"Liverpool are a massive club with a big history that has won many trophies over the years and as soon as I was told of the possibility to come here and I knew the manager wanted me I said yes.

"It was the right move. I recognise the size of the club and to progress to another level as a player this was the club and the moment for me. It was a step I needed to make."

Mane's comments are certainly encouraging for Liverpool fans and will certainly please Klopp.

Liverpool's lack of European football may have put off plenty of transfer targets this summer but that hasn't prevented Klopp from signing the likes of Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum.

KLOPP ASSEMBLING SQUAD

And, while Liverpool may lack the arrival of a high-profile name, Klopp seems to be assembling a squad that fits his style.

The German boss has often insisted that he is only interested in signing players that are keen to be involved in his philosophy and want to be part of his project, rather than those that just want Champions League football.

"That is what I would say to players: 'It is about pushing the train, not jumping on a running train.' That is what we need here," Klopp said in April, per The Guardian.

"If somebody says: 'But you don't play Champions League next year', then goodbye and thank you, have fun next year wherever you will be. We will find players or we have players already that will go our way."

Mane certainly seems keen to 'push the train' at Liverpool and the fact that he turned down arch-rivals Manchester United will mean that he has already endeared himself to the fans.