Sadio Mane does not want to end his career without playing in LaLiga and would be open to joining Barcelona or Real Madrid, according to reports.
The Liverpool striker is currently the toast of Africa having helped Senegal end their wait for the continent’s biggest footballing prize.
The 29-year-old was awarded player of the tournament after Senegal lifted the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time following their penalty shootout victory over Mohamed Salah on Sunday.
Mane missed a first-half penalty, but kept his composure to convert the winning spot-kick in the shootout, sparking wild scenes of celebration both inside the stadium and back in the nation’s capital of Dakar.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Liverpool give Sadio Mane a new contract? Let us know in the comments
The forward overcame his Liverpool colleague Mohamed Salah in the final, consoling the Egyptian talisman immediately after the winning moment.
Salah and Mane will now return to Merseyside to focus on their club seasons ending in the strongest possible fashion.
However, the two, along with fellow forward Roberto Firmino, have uncertain futures, all out of contract in the summer of 2023.
Whilst much of the focus surrounds Salah’s contractual decision, it has yet to be established whether Anfield bosses will look to keep Mane.
At this juncture, it appears unlikely that all three will be retained, with Jurgen Klopp sanctioning moves for Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz in recent windows.
Goal reports that a contract extension has yet to be put on the table for Mane and while the player is happy with his current situation, he could yet be convinced to move on.
According to the publication, playing in LaLiga would fulfil a childhood dream for Mane, who wants to test himself in Spain’s top flight before retiring.
He is also said to be open to a change of scenery in order to push his case as the best African player in history.
There is a belief on Mane’s part that if he could join either Barca or Madrid- and win the league and Champions League - it would put him firmly in that discussion.
It is suggested that Mane’s agents are aware of his desire to play in Spain and while no offers have yet been lodged by Spain’s big two, that could change in the coming months.
Speaking to the ECHO, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher admitted that while he hopes both Mane and Salah sign new deals, “nothing lasts forever”.
“You look at him [Salah] and Mane now in the Africa Cup of Nations final, two of the best attackers in world football, and the service they’ve given the club. Hopefully we can get a few more years out of them,” he explained.
“And I’m sure everyone in that dressing room now will be desperate for Mo Salah to sign a new contract as well as Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino as well.
“These are legends of this club and we’ll be talking about them in 20-30 years, that’s how good they’ve been.
“But nothing lasts forever and that’s why Liverpool have done such really good business with Luis Diaz because maybe, who knows, at the end of the season or the year after one of the front three will move on. They’re at that age in football.”
