In a stunning revelation that rewrites recent Premier League history, Sadio Mane has disclosed how close he came to joining Tottenham Hotspur before his legendary move to Liverpool.
The Training Ground Visit That Nearly Changed Everything
The Senegalese forward, who would become a Premier League champion with 149 direct goal contributions, has revealed he personally visited Tottenham's training facility in 2016. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, Mane detailed how then-Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino personally orchestrated the recruitment push.
"I had a meeting with Tottenham," Mane explained. "At the same time, Pochettino called my agent and said, 'I want Sadio to come to Tottenham training ground.' I went to Tottenham training ground one week after. I saw the facility, I met the coach, I talked to him."
Why Liverpool Won the Transfer Battle
Interestingly, Mane admitted he was more convinced by Tottenham's project than a simultaneous approach from Manchester United. "I was more convinced than the Man United project because Man United - the problem was too many big players," he stated.
However, the entire transfer landscape shifted when Jurgen Klopp intervened. The charismatic German manager's personal call convinced Mane that Anfield was his destined home, setting in motion one of the most successful transfers in Premier League history.
The Champions League Final That Nearly Wasn't
The significance of Mane's decision became painfully clear for Tottenham fans in 2019, when Liverpool faced Spurs in the Champions League final in Madrid. Mane won an early penalty for Klopp's side when his cross struck Moussa Sissoko's arm after just 26 seconds.
Liverpool would lift the trophy that night, while Spurs were left wondering what might have been had they secured Mane's signature three years earlier. The Senegalese star enjoyed an extraordinary Premier League career, making 263 appearances while scoring 111 goals and providing 38 assists.
He also holds the competition's record for quickest hat-trick - an incredible three goals in just two minutes and 56 seconds for Southampton against Aston Villa in May 2015.
