Manager Sadio Mane has revealed that Manchester United signed Anthony Martial in 2015 after failing to lure him from Southampton.
After his first year in England, Mane was approached by Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, but decided to remain at Southampton for one more season before signing for Liverpool.
The Senegalese forward has become a legend for the Reds, scoring 120 goals in 269 games and winning the Premier League in 2019/20 and the Champions League in 2018/19.
However, things could have been very different for both Mane and Liverpool. Manchester United had a chance to sign him in the 2015 summer transfer window, but were unable to convince him to leave Saints.
‘I spoke to Van Gaal’ – Mane despises Man United before moving to Liverpool
Mane has now revealed that he met with then-United manager Louis van Gaal, but was not satisfied with his pitch. He went into the negotiations with some trepidation, especially since Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria and Memphis Depay were all already at the club.
“At that moment, I got a call from Manchester United. I was talking to Van Gaal,” he told Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
“Rooney was there. Di Maria was there. And Depay was there.”
Mane then revealed that Martial had become United’s second choice and explained how the conversation with Van Gaal had developed.
“When they couldn’t get me, they bought Martial,” he continued.
“Van Gaal called me and said, ‘Mane, how are you doing? What are you doing?'” He said, “I want you to come to Manchester United.” “Really?” I said. He said, “Yes.” I said, “Okay.” I’m currently talking to my agent. “(Van Gaal): “We’ll see what’s best, because we know you’re a good player and can help the team, and we can help you become a better player.”
“And I said, ‘Okay, here’s my question. You have Depay, you have Rooney, you have Di Maria, you have Van Persie… so where am I going to play?’ That was my question, because I want to play.
From the streets of Senegal to one of the best attackers in the world🇸🇳
Sadio Mane… Respect 👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/yjWvCSWs7J
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) November 20, 2025
“He said: ‘I know your talent and you’re good. But if you train well and make a good impression, you’ll play. But we have another good player.’
“I didn’t buy his explanation. I spoke to the coach and he said if I was fit, I would play. But I can tell you I wasn’t ready at the time. I was young and still needed someone to help me more. And it took me another year or two to be where I wanted to be because I was still at Southampton. I wasn’t consistent. And we said, ‘Okay, let’s see.’
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Liverpool legend Mane could have joined Spurs in 2015
There were also talks with Tottenham that summer, with Mauricio Pochettino’s pitch making a much stronger impression than Manchester United’s.
Mane added: “I had a meeting with Tottenham. At the same time, Mauricio Pochettino called him (his agent) and said, ‘I want Sadio to come to Tottenham’s training ground.’
“Then I went to Tottenham’s training ground a week later. I saw the facilities, met the coach, talked to them. And I was more convinced than the Man United project because Man United…the problem was they had too many big players.”
Sadio Mane: Liverpool legend
Formed an iconic front three with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino Won five major trophies with Liverpool Named Liverpool’s player of the season after his debut season Joined 100 Premier League clubs with 21 goals for Southampton and 90 for Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s front three of Salah, Firmino and Mane will be remembered as one of the best attacking trios in Premier League history, if not the best.
They were a devastating force, with Firmino’s intelligence perfectly complementing the pace, power and clinical finishing of Salah and Mane.
If Mane didn’t get that because he went to Manchester United…imagine there…his career would be wiped out there.
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