LIVERPOOL CAN CONSIDER themselves “very lucky” to have won the race for Naby Keita’s signature, says Sadio Mane.
The Reds have seen their persistence rewarded in a protracted chase, with a deal finally agreed for a long-standing target.
Jurgen Klopp had tried to put a transfer in place over the summer, but was ultimately forced to accept a club record £48 million (€54m) agreement for 2018.
Mane believes that represents good business for Liverpool, with a current Reds star looking forward to welcoming a familiar face to Anfield from RB Leipzig.
He told LFC TV: “He’s a friend for me. Even not a friend, he’s like a brother. Because we keep in touch all the time, talking.
“He asks me ‘how is the club?’ and I tell him ‘unbelievable’.
“He knows the team and the club, and he knows how Liverpool is.
“We’re lucky to have him. He’s an unbelievable player.”
Mane is reluctant to speculate on what Liverpool supporters can expect from Keita, merely stating: “You will see!”
He is, however, hoping to strike up a productive professional relationship with a player he has previously spent time with at Red Bull Salzburg.
“It just came normally because we speak the same language and we’re close neighbours, Guinea and Senegal. We were so close,” Mane added on his friendship with Keita.
So when it came, we lived together in the same area of Salzburg. We were always together – sometimes he came to my house, I went to his house.
“We even didn’t speak German but we had someone who took care of us.
“But I was better than him because I was there one year before him!”
Keita’s move to Liverpool will be officially completed on July 1, 2018.
The £48m fee agreed is merely to trigger his release clause, with the Reds also committed to paying premiums on top of that relating to RB Leipzig’s performance in the 2017-18 campaign — with qualification for European competition set to bump up the overall cost of the transfer.
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Rafa Out banners already. Chants of “f..k off Rafa you’re not welcome”.
Comedy Gold at the bridge today.
Chelsea fans are worlds worst….. It’s a privilege to have a manager like Rafa…. Hope rafa takes his money a run, after the treatment he will get from these high class thugs….
I think it’s more a case of Di Matteo getting sacked. The fans wouldn’t welcome anybody after it. Rafa is just the target of the fans anger when it really should be Abromavich getting the boos
A minute ago other was because he liked to play 9-0-1.
Where did you read your latest “opinion”?
Jesus Damien give it a rest already. I don’t like the defensive style Rafa uses. shockingly enough that’s MY OWN opinion. I’m merely speculating that it wouldnt matter who replaced Di Matteo because he was the man to lead Chelsea to the champs league and FA cup titles last year, and as such is the man the Chelsea fans want to see lead their team
Now do me a favour and try not to troll over every comment I make. its not my faulty made a tool of yourself earlier on.
Yes free flowing football won Chelsea those trophies alright. It’s obvious you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Don’t worry it’s not your “faulty”.
The free flowing football I mentioned arrived with the new look midfield of Oscar and Hazard. In case you didn’t know, they weren’t around for the champs league last year.
Sorry about the typo. Now please go get yourself a life. For a guy that advised me to stop reading newspapers you’re spending a lot of time on here.
Finally since we’re correcting spelling and grammar, “u” is a letter “you” is the word you were looking for.
Pretend all you like that you didn’t understand what I meant about reading too many newspapers.
I know what you ment you clown, just because happen to agree with the general consensus doesn’t mean I took it from the paper. now in the most polite way I can put it, piss of.
Try harder you’re nearly there.
its ok I’m finished feeding the trolls today
You read that somewhere?
It’s not just the Di Matteo sacking. There was a lot of bad blood between Rafa and Chelsea and in particular the fans since the days when he was Liverpoool manager.
In terms of upsetting the fans, it’s probably the worst appointment since George Graham became Spurs manager.
Sexy football? You’ve clearly never seen a team play under Rafa! Di Matteo had Chelsea playing free flowing football. Rafa will be playing that 9-0-1 formation I reckon
I think u should stop reading the newspapers. Try thinking for yourself.
You might like it.
says the man reading the online news!
Hah?
Rafa likes to run a team with no interference, and has shown he can produce when left alone by owners…. But as in the cowboys, and moratti at inter Milan, also eventually the owners at Valencia interfered, it will not work. Expect roman to pile pressure on him…. Imagine guardiola…. Who would be fired after 1 draw, given the expectations on him….
It’s one dull game.So far
16.48 Torres tangles for a 50/50 with Azpil… and wins a free?!? Really, his teammate?!
An ashley Cole raping shot?
at 1744