09 August 2023 , 19:22
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Sadio Mane has revealed former Liverpool team-mates Roberto Firmino and Fabinho helped persuade him to make the move to Saudi Arabia.
Mane has joined Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr following a disappointing stint at Bayern Munich, where he scored just seven goals in all competitions for the German club, having been signed from Liverpool for £35m after Robert Lewandowski left to join Barcelona.
The 31-year-old is one of several former Liverpool stars to join a Saudi club this summer, with Firmino signing for Al Ahli, Fabinho making a £40m switch to Al Ittihad and Jordan Henderson joining Al Ettifaq.
Reds legends Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler have also taken managerial roles in the Gulf State. And Mane has revealed both Firmino and Fabinho tried to get him to join their respective new clubs, before he decided to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr.
"I think first of all I spoke with Firmino for sure," he told . "I think he wanted me to come to the wrong club – I’m joking! He always called two or three times to convince me to come to Al Ahli.
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"At the same time I spoke with Fabinho because he was quite close to me and he also wanted me to come to Al Ittihad, but in this time when Al Nassr came, I chose Al Nassr.
Sadio Mane has opened up about his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr (Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)"Of course Henderson is here also, and he sent me a message two days ago to wish me good luck and I’m excited to meet all these great guys and also to meet them face to face for the first time. I’m going to win against you guys!"
Mane also revealed his mother played a key role in his decision to join Al Nassr and that his "whole family was excited for me to come here". He added: "Since I had the opportunity I spoke to my family, and they were happiest of course because it is a Muslim country.
"My mum especially encouraged me to go. My mum is Muslim like me, she was the first to vote for me to go there and my whole family was excited for me to come here so it was not hard – it is important to my faith. I am pleased to be part of this project and to make it go forward, we have a bright future ahead."