Liverpool’s record signing this season, Sadio Mane, has been incredible for the Premier League side. Not many thought that the £34 million price tag was logical for the 24-year-old former Southampton player. But his performances have done the talking as he has scored six goals in the Premier League campaign.
The movement and link up play with Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool has seen the club storm to the top of the league. Mane, along with the rest of the Liverpool team, have been on fire and have scored goals for fun.
The Merseyside club have a total of 30 goals in 11 games and could be looking to add a few more before the season ends. The Senegalese has been the best signing overall this season as well and here are five things that you do need to know about him.
Tough start to his footballing career
Like many players who come out from Africa, Mane too had humble beginnings. When the 15-year-old went to his first trial in torn shorts and boots. He did perform well and was selected at the academy at Académie Generation Foot.
Third Senegalese to represent Liverpool
The Senegalese isn’t the first player to represent his country at Liverpool. Many would remember Gerard Houllier’s time with a lot of French speaking players and two other Senegalese stars were part of the Reds. Salif Diao and El Hadji Diouf, anyone?
Record against Liverpool
This could have been one reason why the Reds did sign Mane up. The Senegalese did score four goals against the Merseyside club in the past two campaigns for the Saints. Mane was always a tough player to defend against but these performances could have been just why Jurgen Klopp picked the player for his new side.
Linked with a move to Manchester United
What would be a bit of a surprise, Mane was heavily linked with a big-money move to rivals Manchester United. The Red Devils wanted to sign the former Southampton man and Louis van Gaal could still have been with a job had he gotten the attacker. It is a good thing that the Manchester club did not sign Mane up.
Fastest hat-trick in the Premier League
Taking the record from another Liverpool man Robbie Fowler, Mane has scored the fastest Premier League hat-trick when he scored three past Aston Villa last season. It took the attacker just 174 seconds to get the goals and he would be looking to break that record with the Reds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O89NGsH5mEo
