Sadio Mane detailed his rejection of Manchester United for Liverpool, explaining that Louis van Gaal’s vague promises of game time did not convince him, unlike the clear path offered by the Reds for his development.
Sadio Mané revealed he turned down a move to Manchester United under Louis van Gaal because he felt it was “not the right club” at the time.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Sadio Mané has disclosed that he rejected Manchester United after discussions with then-manager Louis van Gaal, choosing instead to wait for a move to Liverpool.
Mané said of United: “Some teams wanted me – Manchester … the wrong team wanted me,” emphasizing that although talks progressed — “of course, I spoke with Van Gaal, and they even made an offer” — he believed the timing, club, and coach were not right.
He added: “But for me it was not the right club, it was not the right moment. To feel this – the right moment, the right coach, the right club.”
The report notes that Mané ultimately joined Liverpool for around £34 million in June 2016, having spent an additional season at Southampton after rejecting United.
His decision has been framed as part of a long-term strategy: he prioritized development and playing under a coach and in a system that suited him.
According to Mané, he “was convinced I still had to prove something, improve more and learn more before I moved to a bigger club.”
His patience paid off when Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp intervened, prompting Mané to commit to the Anfield side.
By rejecting United, Mané says he made a conscious career choice — aligning himself with a project and a coach he believed in rather than simply joining a big-name club.