Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (L) during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on May 16, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Rui Vieira / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
With Barcelona keen to keep hold of Leo Messi last summer, the Blaugrana were reportedly keen on acquiring Sadio Mane in order to help appease the Argentine.
The now PSG star had reportedly requested that the La Liga giants bolster the squad with the acquisition of the AFCON-winner, though talks with the Senegalese international’s representatives didn’t produce the desired result, as reported by Sique Rodriguez (via Sport Witness).
The 29-year-old’s contract is set to expire in the summer of 2023 alongside that of Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino’s current terms.
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Given Barcelona’s financial turmoil, we find it extremely hard to believe that Xavi’s men would have had the financial muscle to necessary to secure a signing of Mane’s calibre.
Nonetheless, having more than proved his ability to contribute at the highest level of the game at the AFCON, it can only mean a positive sign for the remainder of the campaign – particularly with the arrival of Luis Diaz set to provide further competition for places.
Should there be room for our No.11 to be handed an extension, a similar consideration should be made for our No.10 if he can manage to keep up the kind of performances we observed in Cameroon.
#Ep32 of The Red Nets Podcast: Portuguese football expert’s exciting Diaz analysis, rating our transfer window… and more!
