Sadio Mane is as brilliant as he is underrated.
Last season, Liverpool’s no.10 scored more goals than any other player in the Premier League – not including penalties – winning the Golden Boot jointly with Mo Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
He also helped fire Liverpool to Champions League glory, but his campaign is not over yet due to his brilliance with Senegal over the summer.
His country are in the AFCON Final and will face Algeria on Friday for the chance to win the competition for the first time in their history.
If Mane wins the AFCON on top of the Champions League, he’s surely in with a very good shout of Ballon d’Or glory.
For Liverpool though, his international success has been a little annoying, as he’ll play no part whatsoever in our pre-season!
Mane has joked that while Jurgen Klopp has been constantly sending him messages of support, he thinks the manager has an ulterior motive!
“The boss, you know how he is, he’s always sending me messages, all the time. I say boss you know what, sorry but I’m not coming now, I’m not coming yet, you need to leave me alone!” he said, reported by Squawka.
Whatever happens tonight, Mane will enjoy a holiday before joining up with the squad just before the season starts properly.
He’ll face a race against time to be match-fit again in time for the Norwich game on August 9, but if Klopp decides to prolong his break, we reckon we’re more than covered.