Sadio Mane has welcomed the arrival of Luis Diaz at Liverpool, despite the January signing playing in the same position as him.
Diaz joined Liverpool from Porto last month for an initial fee of £37.5million, which could rise by a further £12.5m with add-ons.
He has already impressed, picking up an assist on his debut in the 3-1 win against Cardiff City in the FA Cup and going close to scoring on a few occasions in the 2-0 win over Leicester City.
The 25-year-old forward played all of his football for Porto this season from the left-hand side of attack – the same position Mane operates in for Liverpool.
Mane reclaimed his spot straight away in the 1-0 win against Burnley on Sunday after returning from his successful campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and is delighted to be able to call Diaz a team-mate.
“Luis is a great player. When he came, I was not here, I was at AFCON and I watched two games of him,” he told CBS Sports .
“But before, he used to play for Porto and we always faced each other, so I know how good he is. He’s a great player. I've now spent two, three days with him and he's a very, very nice guy.
“For sure he will do great for Liverpool because he's so, so talented and he's very humble. A very hard-working player.”
Having not been used in the trip at Burnley, Diaz will be vying for a place in Jurgen Klopp’s team to face Inter Milan in the Champions League tonight.
Liverpool travel to Milan in fantastic form, having won their last six games in all competitions and Mane believes Diaz’s addition highlights their squad strength.
“I don't take it as competition,” he said. “I take it as making each other better players, for sure. If you want to be a great team you need these kinds of players.
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“We are really happy to have these kinds of players, and altogether fit. And for sure, we're going to win and Liverpool will win from it.
“You think about the Champions League and Premier League …which is great for us as players and for the club, and for the fans.
“I think everyone knows Klopp is a great manager. He is used to this situation, making sure everyone is happy, and for sure he will keep doing the same.”
Klopp has a fully fit squad to choose from in the first leg of the last-16 Champions League tie.
Jordan Henderson has recovered from a gashed knee suffered against Burnley and has travelled with the squad to Italy.
