The forward has been highly impressive since joining Liverpool from Southampton this summer.
Liverpool star Sadio Mane has told BBC Sport that manager Jurgen Klopp tried to sign him when he was at Borussia Dortmund.
The forward joined the Reds in the summer transfer window in a big-money move from Southampton.
At the time the move raised many an eyebrow, with some believing they had paid over the odds for his signature.
He has since proved to be an extremely smart signing, though, with a series of impressive performances contributing to his team’s strong start to the campaign and yielding three goals in his first six games.
It seems he could have been working with Klopp much sooner as the German boss had tried to sign him when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund.
“Before I came here, I had the chance to meet him when he was at Borussia Dortmund,” he told BBC Sport.
“I was at Red Bull Salzburg and he tried to sign me – but it didn’t happen and that is football. He is a good manager and he is someone who likes his players.”
Instead, the pair finally joined forces when Klopp brought the forward to Anfield this summer.
Given that Southampton finished higher than the Reds last season then it is easy to imagine Mane had some thinking to do about making the switch but he says that was not the case.
“At the end of last season, he called me and told me he wanted me to come to Liverpool,” he added.
“I said straight away that I want to come. It was the right time and right coach for me. I am very happy to be here.”
Liverpool will now be hoping that Mane continues his fine form to help them continue challenging at the top of the table.
Their next game sees them take on Manchester United at Anfield in what is likely to be a huge indication of both sides’ title credentials this season.
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