Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has a fan in former Coventry City star Noel Whelan, and he’s made a pretty big claim about the Senegalese international.
Whelan believes that Mane would walk into any team in the world, and drops Man City and Real Madrid as examples.
As much as rival fans would argue that Raheem Sterling and Eden Hazard are superior footballers, I don’t think Liverpool fans would agree to a swap.
Mane proved himself as an excellent goal-scorer last season as he – and Mo Salah – went toe-to-toe with on fire Arsenal striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
Whelan appreciates Salah, but calls his team-mate the more threatening. “What a player, he’s incredible. He is so dangerous, the worst nightmare for any defender,” he told Football Insider.
“Everyone talks about Mohamed Salah but Mane looks the man and the biggest threat of all.
“He’s so quick and elusive, and unpredictable, too. He scores goals from inside and outside the box, sets them up, takes players on. He can do everything.
“He would walk into every team in the world – Man City, Real Madrid. Anyone. He is worth £150million now. His commodity is massive at the moment.”
You could offer Jurgen Klopp the £150million plus a ready-made replacement and he’d probably stand up from his seat at the negotiating table and laugh you out the door.
The thing is, Mane is a very unique footballer. He’s developed from a pacy winger with an eye for goal into a generational talent at Liverpool.
You couldn’t replace Mane, if we sold him. Whelan is right – he could walk into any team, but let’s hope he keeps on walking into ours.