Sadio Mane hopes to emulate ‘hero’ Ronaldinho at the Nou Camp

This was always the dream. In the village of Banbali, where Sadio Mane grew up, he would imagine running out at the Nou Camp to emulate Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian with all those tricks and flicks and goals was everything to Mane, a hero and an inspiration. 

He used to run two miles to his local pitch in an attempt to emulate Ronaldinho, hoping that one day he would be good enough to grace one of football’s great cathedrals.

The Brazilian legend used to come alive in the Champions League under the floodlights

Here he is – and in a Champions League semi-final for good measure.

On Wednesday evening, the Senegal flyer who has just been named in the PFA team of the year, will be one of the prongs in a Liverpool attacking trident that Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde described as ‘extraordinary’. He belongs on this stage.

Mane looked sheepish when he was asked to talk about Ronaldinho, almost as if he felt it was overstepping a mark. 

Ronaldinho won everything there was to win; Mane, by contrast, has no silverware to decorate his career.

Do not be surprised, however, if the 26-year-old does what his idol used to do so often. 

Under the floodlights at the Nou Camp, Ronaldinho would come alive in the Champions League and that is exactly what Mane is primed to do.

Liverpool face Barcelona on Wednesday night with Mane now primed to do exactly the same

The Senegalese forward’s importance and ruthlessness for Liverpool in 2019 has been huge

He, simply, is Liverpool’s man for the big occasion. Mane has scored in every knockout tie Liverpool have played in the Champions League during the past two seasons and also hit the target during last May’s final against Real Madrid in Kiev.

His importance for Liverpool in 2019 has been huge and the ruthlessness he has shown in front of goal is at odds with the shyness that characterises him off the field. 

Mane may have found it difficult to comprehend that he was talking about Ronaldinho but nothing will hold him back

‘I really loved watching him play, especially here at the Nou Camp,’ said Mane, who may yet end the season as the Premier League’s leading scorer. 

‘I would have loved to play against him. Him not being here now is an advantage for us! I still love him. He is still my hero forever.

Ronaldinho won everything in his career but Mane has yet to lift any silverware in his

‘I loved his skills, his smile for sure. Maybe when I’m not smiling on the pitch people think I am angry! I would love to have his smile, but we’re not similar like that! 

‘It’s very important for Liverpool to have players trying to help the team scoring goals and giving each other assists.

‘That’s more important than the Golden Boot. To be honest, nothing changes, it’s just exciting and hopefully I can score for the team again. 

‘It will be great for us to play in this stadium as every club would want to play. But it’s not extra pressure. It’s motivation for us to get a good result.’

A good result would give Liverpool an outstanding chance of reaching a ninth European Cup final and the opportunity to exorcise the memory of the defeat to Madrid. 

Mane admitted he is jealous of Barcelona after they bought old team-mate Philippe Coutinho

Standing in the way, however, are Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and an old friend.

‘He is a great great player and I’m a little bit jealous that Barcelona can get him,’ Mane said when Philippe Countinho’s name entered the conversation. 

‘I would love to see him but we are happy for him. He really enjoyed playing alongside his team-mates and gave everything.

‘He is still young and can improve a lot. I know him; he is a hard worker. Hopefully tomorrow (on Wednesday) he will still be in bed when we play! 

‘It will be an added motivation to give everything and win against those best players in the world.’