It remains to be seen whether Sadio Mane has played his last game in a Liverpool shirt, but the Senegal forward was already joking about his future back in February.
The 30-year-old has reportedly told teammates he plans to leave Anfield this summer after six seasons with the Reds. Bayern Munich is considered the most likely destination for a player who scored 23 times in the 2021-22 season, with the German champions preparing for life without top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
It has been a big year for Mane, who led Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory and helped his country reach the Qatar World Cup before playing his part at club level as Liverpool won two domestic cups and reached the Champions League final. However, in the aftermath of that AFCON victory, he was already joking about his future plans.
After the AFCON final, Mane was asked by international teammate Pape Gueye about a potential move to Marseille. To be clear, there was no hint of any concrete interest from the Ligue 1 high-flyers, but Gueye - in his second season at Stade Velodrome - decided to get Mane's thoughts regardless.
"Marseille, make an effort, put in the money and I’ll come!" Mane said while laughing "You have to pay the transfer and I’ll come!"
At the time there was no suggestion Mane was getting ready to leave Liverpool at all, and it remains the case that any move is likely to involve a team with a shot at Champions League glory. Still, that hasn't stopped another Senegal and Marseille star, Bamba Dieng, reiterating his colleague's love for the French runners-up.
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“He... loves OM [Marseille] a lot," Dieng said, as reported by Africa Top Sports. "And he told me he watches all the OM games.
"As soon as we arrive in the national team, he’s happy. He speaks about Marseille. I’d like for him to join us and play here one day."
Marseille have already begun their summer recruitment after finishing second behind Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. Matteo Guendouzi will join the club permanently after a successful loan from Arsenal, while efforts are being made to convince William Saliba to do the same.
Liverpool aren't expected to compromise on the transfer fee if they do let Mane leave this summer, despite him only having a year left on his current deal. Jurgen Klopp's side are reportedly after £42.5m for the former Southampton star, and would rather lose him on a free in 12 months time than sell him on the cheap.
Former Reds striker Dean Saunders suggested Mane was "irreplaceable," despite the impressive start made by January arrival Luis Diaz. "I would argue the fact that he's probably in the top three players in the world right now. Salah, Mane, De Bruyne," the Welshman told talkSPORT.
A number of potential replacements have been mentioned if Liverpool do have to prepare for life without Mane next term. Darwin Nunez is one potential option after impressing against the Reds in the 2021-22 Champions League for Benfica, while Jarrod Bowen and Bukayo Saka are among the Premier League stars linked with the Reds.
