Real Madrid: Would Sadio Mane make sense for Los Blancos?

Sadio Mane is one of the best wide forwards in world football, but would the 2019 Ballon d’Or candidate make sense for Real Madrid in 2020?

Real Madrid will prioritize signing a top-notch goal-scorer in the 2020 summer transfer window, and while Kylian Mbappe is their top long-term target without any doubt, it is highly unlikely PSG make the world’s most valuable player available this year.

Therefore, Los Blancos must look at alternative options. With Borussia Dortmund also not expected to sell star striker Erling Haaland in 2020, those options are unclear. But Liverpool left winger Sadio Mane is one player linked to Florentino Perez’s club.

As with Haaland and Mbappe, Mane is also unexpected to be available in 2020. Liverpool could try to cash in on Mane during his peak years at the age of 28, but it would be shocking if they were to sell such an important player when the club is still winning major trophies. The trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, and Mane is special beyond all doubt.

That said, Mane could be an option for Real Madrid if he surprises the Reds with a transfer request, or if Los Blancos submit an offer Liverpool can’t refuse. That offer would have to be substantial, because Mane is worth 120 million euros, per Transfermarkt.

Mane’s price could change based on the summer transfer market prices as a result of the pandemic, but it’s clear that Mane will be expensive. Liverpool won’t want to sell and will look to extract every possible euro from Real Madrid.

Last season, Mane scored 14 goals with seven assists in 2,085 minutes for Liverpool. He is a superstar left winger who can compete at the highest level, and he is one of the most clinical scoring wide forwards in the world. If Mbappe is completely unavailable, Mane could be the best goal-scoring forward Real Madrid can realistically acquire.

Although Mane plays left forward for Liverpool, he did score two goals in three appearances on the right side for the Reds. And if he were to move to Real, he’d have to play on the right as Gareth Bale‘s replacement. Since Eden Hazard is a left winger and Vinicius Junior has emerged as someone needing regular minutes (Rodrygo is still a year away from that), there wouldn’t be much space for Mane with Hazard healthy.

Off the ball, Mane is incredible. He is one of the most brilliant players off the ball in world football, having embarrassed countless teams with his running. Mane reads the opposition’s lines and tactical setup, pouncing on schematic and individual weaknesses alike. He’s also, like his teammates, incredibly adept at pressing. Whenever there’s a poor touch or hesitation from a defender with their back turned, Mane will make them pay.

In addition to being clinical, Mane is unselfish, as evidenced by his seven assists. He can score with ease, but he’s more than willing to look for the killer pass first. Sometimes, he arrows in passes to Salah or finds an onrushing midfielder in a way that would make a No. 10’s head turn. Since Mane wears the No. 10, it’s only fitting.

A complete attacking player whose game is the most layered of anyone in the Premier League, Mane could fit Real Madrid because of his sheer talent. But because of his age (Real already spent 100 million euros on a winger in his prime last summer), price tag, and the lack of likelihood he wants to leave, Mane may not be a realistic target for Los Merengues.