The Reds ace was in conversation with the Liverpool website about Barcelona legend Ronaldinho.
Ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final clash with Barcelona, Reds forward Sadio Mane has spoken about Ronaldinho, whose best years came in the Blaugrana shirt and who was famous for always playing with a smile.
In doing so, the Senegal international hit back at one particular criticism that he feels some people may have of him, namely that he is an angry player.
Mane has impressed for Liverpool since his £34million move to Anfield from Southampton in 2016, going on to establish himself as a key component of the team’s attacking trident.
Along with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, Mane has turned the Reds into a side challenging for trophies on a regular basis.
The 27-year-old has 24 goals and five assists in all competitions this season, and since joining Liverpool he has made 118 appearances with 57 goals and 22 assists (Transfermarkt).
In conversation with the official Liverpool website, Mane spoke of his admiration for Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner with Brazil, a player deemed one of the best footballers of all time, and for Mane, a player he has always looked up to.
“Ronaldinho was one of my heroes and I really love watching him play, especially here [at Camp Nou],” he said. “I would love to play against him, but tomorrow he is not here.
“I still love him and he’s still my hero forever. [I liked] his skills, smiling for sure. Maybe I’m not smiling on the pitch [and] people think I’m angry, but I’m not! I would love to have his smile but I think we are not similar in this side. That’s it.”
The Reds are hoping to reach their second final in a row, while the Blaugrana are seeking their fourth triumph in the competition in the last 10 years.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
