Sadio Mane admits he snubbed Manchester United and his parents to play for Liverpool

SADIO MANE revealed he snubbed Manchester United to join Liverpool.

By Chris McKenna 

But the new Reds winger admitted he may have never have ended up at Anfield if his parents had their way.

Mane, 24, moved from Southampton to Liverpool this summer for a fee which could eventually hit £38m.

He heads to LA today with the rest of his team-mates for their friendly clash with Chelsea tomorrow.

United made a bid for the Senegal speedster last summer.

But he claims there was only one club for him.

“It was true, there was interest from a lot of clubs, not just Manchester United, but as soon as I knew Liverpool were interested I just felt it was the right club - and with the right coach – and right for me to come here.

“I recognise the size of the club and to progress to another level as a player. This was the club and the moment for me. It was a step I needed to make.”

Mane grew up in a tiny village outside of Sedhiou in the south of Senegal.

But it was there he got his first view of the club he would join 11 years later when they came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in the 2005 Champions League final.

REBEL: Mane had to fight against his parents to become a footballer

Despite that stirring night in Istanbul, he was a Barcelona fan who adored Ronaldinho before his own career started in France with Metz before a move to Red Bull Salzburg and then on to Southampton two years ago.

But football was not the plan his parents had for him.

“My family are very religious and before my career started they didn’t think I was going to make it as a footballer and did not really encourage me,” he said.

“They didn’t think it was possible so I had to convince them. They wanted me to have an education, but I was concentrating on football rather than wanting to school.

“It came to a head when I was 15 when they realised they could not hold me back. I had the possibility of making it.

“My parents never thought in a million years I would get to this level so it is a dream for them and they are really proud.”

Mane smiles when asked where he might be if his parents had got him to focus more on school instead.

“Fate deals its hand,” he said. “You go on to have a lot of kids – there is a tradition of having big families in Africa.

“A lot of people are out of work, or have rural jobs. Forestry and agriculture are big industries.”

Mane hopes he can earn himself a better reputation at Anfield than his countryman El-Hadji Diouf finished with.

Mane added: “He is a hero in Senegal but of course I have heard maybe not so much in Liverpool.”