Sadio Mane ‘open to Barcelona move’ and reunion with Ronald Koeman as forward ‘thinks his role at Liverpool prevents him from picking up individual honours’
- Sadio Mane scored 18 goals last season as Liverpool won the Premier League
- But he is considering linking up with former boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona
- Mane feels his pursuit of individual achievements cannot be fulfilled at Anfield
- Koeman mentored Mane at Southampton as the striker scored 25 goals for them
Sadio Mane is open to a move to Barcelona after becoming frustrated with his role at Liverpool, according to reports in Spain.
The Senegal international has become a fundamental figure at Anfield having helped the club win the Premier League and Champions League in the last two seasons by forming a devastating front three with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
However, Mundo Deportivo now claim that he is keen on the idea of reuniting with former boss Ronald Koeman at Barcelona as he feels it will boost his chances of winning individual honours.
Sadio Mane is open to a move to Barcelona after becoming frustrated with his Liverpool role
Munde Deportivo claim the Senegalese is willing to link up with former boss Ronald Koeman
Koeman mentored Mane at Southampton and took over at former club Barcelona this month
Koeman and Mane spent two years together at Southampton, where the Dutchman helped mentor the striker who went on to score 25 goals in 75 games before earning his move to Liverpool.
The report states that Mane accepts he has won the respect of people having won trophies in England, but feels that he is not being given the individual respect he deserves after helping his side to their maiden Premier League title with his 18 league goals last season.
The Spanish outlet also adds that Mane feels that no matter how hard he works or how much commitment he shows, he believes the reward always goes to team-mate Salah or captain Jordan Henderson.
Mane has formed a formidable attack with Mo Salah (centre) and Roberto Firmino (right)
But he is frustrated that despite his work, Salah or Jordan Henderson seem to be rewarded
The report also adds that while Mane’s maintains a good relationship with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, it is not what it once was and is another factor in his decision to be open to a move to Barcelona, regardless of whether Lionel Messi stays or not.
Mane also reportedly sees this period as an excellent time to test himself in LaLiga as Barcelona’s transitional stage begins under Dutchman Koeman, having admired the club since the days of Ronaldinho.
However, the report acknowledges that Barcelona would have to pay £107m (€120m) to sign Mane, which is an amount they cannot afford having splashed out heavily on the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho in recent years.
Mane also believes his chances of claiming individual honours are slim given his current role
Barcelona are on the lookout for a new striker after Luis Suarez was told he can leave the club
Barcelona are keen to add a centre-forward to their ranks this summer with Koeman informing Luis Suarez in no uncertain terms that he is free to leave Barcelona.
The Catalan giants have also been linked with a move for Lyon star, Memphis Depay, who admitted he could be open to leaving after the Ligue 1 side’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.
However, it appears that getting players off the wage bill remains the Catalan side’s priority this summer while attempting to retain the services of Argentina star Messi, who indicated his desire to leave the club via burofax earlier this week.
