Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wanted to punch himself after failing to sign Sadio Mane at Borussia Dortmund, making it very easy for him to decide to bring the forward to Anfield.
The German considered taking Mane – then at Red Bull Salzburg – to the Bundesliga in 2014.
But Klopp ensured he completed the signing two years later as Liverpool paid Southampton £34million for the Senegal international.
Mane has helped his team to the top of the Premier League with six goals and two assists and Klopp said it was a straightforward decision to make a second time around.
With Sadio it was pretty simple because I made the mistake at Dortmund where I didn t take him, Klopp said.
We talked. I think everyone knows we met each other and by the end I…
Erling Haaland was not lured away from Borussia Dortmund in the most recent transfer window despite widespread interest.
But the race to sign the 21-year-old Norway international will heat up in the coming months.
Haaland scored 41 goals for Dortmund last term, making him one of European football s hottest properties.
TOP STORY MADRID LEAD HAALAND RACE
Real Madrid have a verbal agreement for Dortmund star Haaland to join the club next year, reports Diario Madridista.
The Spanish club leads the way amid widespread interest in the Norwegian forward, including from Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Additionally, Los Blancos decision to respect Dortmund s stance to not sell the 21-year-old during the previous window has …
Roger Federer made the whole world dream through his tennis, French football great Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday.
The Swiss superstar contested his final match on Friday night in London, as he bowed out at the age of 41, accepting knee trouble in recent years would not allow him to carry on.
Zidane s last match as a player famously ended in a headbutt, a red card and crushing disappointment in the 2006 World Cup final, as France lost out to Italy on penalties in Berlin.
That was a far cry from the celebratory scenes at the O2 where 20-time grand slam winner Federer exited in a hail of adulation and high emotion, as the man from Basle broke down in a flood of tears on court.
The poignancy came after Federer lost alongside Rafael Nadal in a Laver Cup d…
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has confirmed he wants to sell the Championship club.
The 74-year-old took charge of Wednesday in 2010 with the club suffering from financial difficulties following relegation to League One.
While the former Portsmouth chairman wishes to relinquish control of the club due to family and my business commitments , he also explained there are no offers currently on the table.
What I can tell you is that yes, there is interest and as I have always said, I will continue to meet people who can potentially help us but there is nothing tangible at this time, Mandaric said in a statement.
This is a big club, a special club with special supporters who expect and deserve to be given information. But there is nothing happening at th…
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Southampton defender Danny Fox on an initial loan deal.
The 27-year-old had been at St Mary s Stadium since 2011 and will move to the Championship side on loan until the end of the season.
Once the current campaign has finished, the former Celtic and Burnley left-back will be contracted to Forest for the next three years.
Fox made 69 appearances for Southampton, scoring once, and will join a side fifth in the Championship under Billy Davies.
Danny was an extremely popular member of the dressing room, and leaves with the club s best wishes for his future career, Southampton said on their official website.
He will be fondly remembered for the role he played in helping Southampton return to the Premier League, an…
Mateo Kovacic is likely to make his Chelsea debut off the bench when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Croatia midfielder was not involved in last weekend s 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town after signing on loan from Real Madrid on deadline day.
Cesc Fabregas also sat out the opening weekend and will miss the Arsenal match with a minor, unusual injury close to his knee.
His unavailability coupled with the midweek loan departure of Tiemoue Bakayoko to AC Milan means Maurizio Sarri is set to call on Kovacic.
I think Mateo will be very useful for us. He s a very technical player, Sarri told reporters.
In this moment he has to work. I think he s not ready now for 90 minutes, but maybe tomorrow for 30 minutes he could b…
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The Champions League is back in our lives, as the best clubs from around Europe aim to compete for the right to be called the Champions of the continent. The current champions Real Madrid, who have held the crown since May 2016, will be back in action this week when they go head to head with Roma. Both teams are no strangers to one another, but in terms of their respective expectations this season, many fans are anticipating a one sided affair but we think it ll be anything but.
Real Madrid
There s been an odd aura around the club since Real Madrid lost Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the summer, as if the heart of their squad had been torn out. Of course, they ve still got a handful of world class super…
Rodri wants Manchester City to move on quickly from the frustration of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
The champions dropped two points in the Premier League title race after spurning a succession of opportunities in the second half of a compelling encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
It might even have been worse had Rodri not finally made a chance count by cancelling out Raheem Sterling’s first-half opener with a deflected strike in the 83rd minute.
A Rodrigo rocket to share the spoils!
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
The result ended City’s six-game winning league run and left them third in the table, four points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, which they play on Tuesday against Brentford.
Midfielder Rodri said: �…
Ghana s amazing run in the World Cup may be a source of inspiration for Africa, but it s also providing a wake-up call for African nations to lay more emphasis on improving their football standards.
In Ethiopia, thousands of fans have turned up in droves to watch the African teams make their mark in the World Cup, providing rapturous support for Ghana when they beat the United States to reach the quarter-finals.
Ghana is the pride of Africa, vuvuzela-blowing Estifanos Tadesse told AFP.
We are Africans so we support them. And of course, they re performing very, very well.
The team s solid performance has spurred unanimous support behind Africa s only remaining team, but that feat has also provided a painful reminder of the gulf that exists between thei…
Udinese have confirmed the signing of former Spain international Albert Riera for next season on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old winger has been without a club since agreeing a mutual termination of his Galatasaray contract in January, and will officially become a Udinese player on July 1.
He began his career in his homeland with Mallorca and has gone on to play for Bordeaux, Espanyol, Manchester City, Liverpool and Olympiacos.
Riera moved to Galatasaray in 2011, but made just four league starts for the Turkish champions this season.
A lack of first-team opportunities under Roberto Mancini will have contributed to his desire to seek game time elsewhere.
Udinese currently sit 14th in Serie A, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
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