Sadio Mané was on the verge of joining Manchester United before opting for Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool, where he became a club icon.
After forging a promising early Premier League career at Southampton – which saw him score the league's fastest-ever hat-trick against Aston Villa in 2015 – the Senegalese forward was in demand and had suitors lined up for him in 2016 .
Yet things could have turned out very differently as the 32-year-old has since revealed he could have called Old Trafford his home had he not preferred the German to then Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal.
“I was really close [to a move to Man Utd] because I even met them,” Mane stated in 2019. “So I came, I was there and I talked to the boss who was there before [Van Gaal].
“They made an offer, but the same week Klopp called me. He said: 'I think this is the right club. The right coach for you, and I think it's better that you go to Liverpool.' For me, I think this was also the right time. I said, 'I'm going to Liverpool.'”
After winning six major titles on Merseyside, Mane left the Premier League in 2022 for a short stint in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich before moving to his current club, Al-Nassr, in Saudi Arabia.
Mane's career could have been very different on paper had he chosen United – who face Arne Slot's men on Sunday and are looking to earn a scalp and move towards mid-table – although he will leave Liverpool admitted that his time there was precious.
“It's obviously strange – really strange – not to be a Liverpool player after six years at Anfield,” Mane told Liverpool's club website in 2022. “But of course I had a great time, an incredible time, and since my first day I have really enjoyed training and playing at Anfield, especially in front of these great supporters.
“From the first day I came to the club, I spoke to the boss when I was at Southampton and I don't think we were even in the Champions League yet.
“He called me and I said, 'Sure.' I just decided in my heart that I'm coming to Liverpool because that's where I see myself, and for me it was the right time and the right club to achieve everything. So of course I can say that we won a lot and I had a great, great time there.
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