French midfielder Mohamed Sissoko who once plied his trade for Liverpool in the Premier League feels that Sadio Mane is more likely to leave Merseyside this season than his team-mate Mohamed Salah. Both the Reds’ forwards have been linked with moves to Real Madrid and the former Liverpool midfielder feels that the Senegalese forward has all the traits and mettle to standout alone at Bernabeu.
Mane formed a scintillating trio at Liverpool which includes him alongside Robert Firmino and Mohamed Salah which propelled them to being European champions last season and ever since then Real Madrid have had their eyes on especially on Salah and Mane.
The trio under Jurgen Klopp has played a crucial role in Liverpool’s Premier League dominance this season. The Reds have simply run riot establishing a 25-point lead over reigning champions Manchester City and are on course to win the league title after 30 years, which however is stalled for the moment with the coronavirus outbreak.
The Senegal international has scored 14 times helping Liverpool achieve this feat only two less than his teammate Mohamed Salah with whom he was jointly acknowledged as the Golden Boot winner last season.
Zinedine Zidane has recognized the talent in Mane and feels him to be the ideal player for the Los Blancos who can provide support to his first choice striker Karim Benzema.
The former Liverpool midfielder believes that Mane will be lured from Merseyside if Zidane feels the necessity to make a formal bid for the 29-year old winger. The former Red midfielder also feels that Mane is more suitable to Zidane’s style of play then Salah making his move to the Spanish capital all the more certain.
When quizzed whether Salah will be leaving for Real Madrid or not in the summer, Sissoko said told Europe Calcio, “No, I think Sadio Mane is likelier to because he has the characteristics that Zidane wants – he really rates him. I think Sadio Mane will go to Real Madrid.”
“I do not know if Salah will stay at Liverpool. If he left, it could also be a good thing for Liverpool – they are a clever club and they’d know how to replace him,” Sissoko added about Salah’s future.
“There are some fantastic youngsters who have what it takes to play for the Reds and put in top performances.”
Liverpool were set to end their 30-year old Premier League drought and the remaining fixtures were only a formality for the Reds if the season resumes. However, there are clouds of uncertainty over their future as the world has come to a standstill with major sporting events getting postponed including football leagues all over Europe.
Klopp’s men are only two wins away from being officially Premier League champions before the lockdown came into effect. While they slipped up against Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 losing both home and away legs.
The Frenchman however, feels that Liverpool’s main aim was to win the league rather retaining Champions League, as he added, “Liverpool are something special. The fans, the club…I played with really terrific players there. Like Juventus, Liverpool also helped me to grow as a player and as a person.
“It is a shame that they have been knocked out of the Champions League, but it has to be said that the main aim was to win the Premier League. The fans have been waiting to win the title for a long time.”
