Agent Bacary Cisse confirms Lionel Messi and PSG wanted Liverpool icon Sadio Mane last season
Agent Bacary Cisse has confirmed that both Lionel Messi and PSG wanted to sign the then Liverpool winger Sadio Mane in 2021.
In an interview with RMC Sport (h/t Liverpool Echo), Mane’s agent confirmed that Paris Saint-Germain were interested in the Senegal international a year before Bayern Munich sealed a deal for him this summer.
“Yes, PSG did indeed ‘attack’ Sadio. Leonardo had several contacts with the German agent. They saw each other, they discussed the ins and outs of a possible transfer of Sadio at PSG, but it ended there. Everyone knows that Leonardo was on an ejection seat; we had to wait.”
More importantly, he revealed that had Lionel Messi stayed and signed a new contract with FC Barcelona, the Argentine would have demanded that the Catalan giants sign the 30-year-old superstar.
“Last year it could have also happened with FC Barcelona. It was Lionel Messi who imposed Sadio Mane in the deal when it was a question of him extending to Barca. He had given two names: Sadio Mane and an Argentinian central defender.”
Messi and Mane on the same team?
That is certainly praise of the highest order for Mane, who is no longer a player for Liverpool but a legend in the eyes of the Reds faithful. Sadio stayed last year and was on the cusp of becoming immortal had LFC won the quadruple.
Instead, we could ‘only’ manage two domestic cup wins while missing out on the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. Without Mane, it would have been very difficult to mount a challenge for all four trophies.
He had run his course at Liverpool. While Liverpool fans may have been surprised when news emerged of Bayern’s interest in him, it shouldn’t have been all that shocking.
Having played for Metz, RB Salzburg, and Southampton before Liverpool, it was about time he sought a new challenge. Bayern in Germany offered a different exposure to Mane after six long years on Merseyside.
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Messi’s admiration of the African legend isn’t a secret, with the Argentine legend advocating for a better finish than fourth for Mane back in 2019. To imagine them in the same team is a scary thought.
Nevertheless, Mane shouldn’t have any regrets, having played in the iconic front three that consisted of him, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
