The world’s most expensive African football had one man to thank for making him the player he is today. Sadio Mane, who joined Liverpool from Southampton, has been incredible for the Reds this season.

The 24-year-old has already scored three goals in six Premier League games. And his pace and dribbling have made him one of the toughest customers in the league to deal with. The Senegalese was quoted by the Liverpool Echo and credited his growth to another German manager, Roger Schmidt.

“He’s at Bayer Leverkusen now.

“He was a big influence on my career thanks to the way he believed in me and helped me so much.

“I was still young when I went to Salzburg and working under him really helped me to grow up and grow up as a player. I learned about tactics and different ways to play the game.”

Mane was signed by the current Leverkusen coach from Metz in 2012. In the 2013-14 season, Mane scored 23 goals in 50 games for the Austrian side as he won the Austrian Bundesliga and Cup. This set the tone for him to move to Southampton and the winger has not looked back since moving to St Mary’s.

The 24-year-old also revealed that he started playing football at a really young age and that was all that he wanted to do when growing up.

“When I was maybe two or three I started playing football.

“I think I always had it in my heart and in my mind. There was nothing else I ever wanted to do and that is still the same right now.

“I always thought I could be a footballer. I would run away from school to go playing it with my friends and get punished when I came home later. But I’d always go playing again because I loved it so much”

Although his family wanted him to concentrate on his school, they still cannot believe the journey Mane has taken and how he is tormenting defences every week in the Premier League.

“Even now my mum will phone me up and says she still can’t believe that I am here playing in England in the Premier League.”

One of the best players in the league this season

While many Liverpool players have done extremely well this season, Mane has been the most impressive new signing. The Senegalese has formed a great partnership with the rest of the Liverpool forwards and will be looking to continue his great form as the Reds face Manchester United after the international break.

Mane might have cost the Reds £34 million to join from Southampton but he is repaying every pound that Liverpool stumped for him. Manchester United, you have been warned.

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