History could have looked very different for both Liverpool and Manchester United if Louis van Gaal had managed to sell his vision to Sadio Mané.
In a recent interview with Rio Ferdinand, the former Liverpool forward revealed that during his rapid rise at Southampton, he received a direct call from the then-Manchester United manager. However, Mané ultimately turned down the move. The reason? United’s squad was packed with superstar talent—including Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay, Ángel Di María, and Robin van Persie—and Mané was fiercely protective of his game time. He wanted a club that could guarantee him a regular spot in the starting lineup.
Mané recalled the exact conversation that altered the course of Premier League history:
Van Gaal: “Mané, how are you? What are you doing? I want you to come to Manchester United.”
Mané: “Really?”
Van Gaal: “Yeah.”
Mané: “Okay, I’m talking to my agent. We’ll see what’s best.”
Van Gaal: “I know you’re a good player. You can help the team, and we can help you become an even better player.”
Mané: “You have Depay, Rooney, Di María, and Van Persie… where am I going to play?”
Van Gaal: “I know your talent. If you train well and impress, you’ll play. But we also have other very good players.”
Unconvinced by Van Gaal’s pitch, Mané decided against Old Trafford. Just a few days later, Jürgen Klopp called—and the rest is history.
