Real Madrid have been linked to Liverpool left forward Sadio Mane multiple times this year, and the Senegal international reportedly sees Los Blancos as a dream destination.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding transfer prices in the upcoming summer window, Real Madrid are expected to be active in the market. Zinedine Zidane received a haul of young players, such as Rodrygo Goes and Ferland Mendy, in his first summer transfer window back at the club, but there’s still more work to be done in the “Revolution”.
Primarily, Real Madrid need a new top goal-scorer, as Karim Benzema struggled in the second half of the season in front of goal. He is the only player on Los Blancos with more than five goals in La Liga this season.
Liverpool left winger Sadio Mane is no stranger to links to the Santiago Bernabeu, but those rumors have increased lately. While Mane and Real reportedly haven’t made contact, there’s plenty of smoke suggesting a possible deal.
And now, France Football reports that Mane dreams of playing for Los Blancos one day, though PSG may also be lurking if Neymar or Kylian Mbappe end up leaving. It’s unlikely either will in this window, as Real Madrid have their eyes on Mbappe for the 2021 window if he does not re-sign.
But if Real don’t want to wait until then, Mane could be an excellent option. Per France Football, there is “mutual interest” between the Liverpool star and the Spanish powerhouse club, and they also report that Los Merengues are the only club that could sway Mane from leaving Liverpool.
It’s been difficult to envision the 28-year-old leaving the Reds and forward partners Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, but this report makes a compelling case for Real. Furthermore, Zinedine Zidane is reportedly in favor of adding him.
Mane would cost a ton of money, though. Liverpool wouldn’t want less than 150 million euros for one of the best forwards in world football, as Mane was a legitimate Ballon d’Or candidate last year. Real Madrid recently spent 100 million euros on another left winger in the prime of his career in Eden Hazard, and the have Vinicius Junior behind him as another preferred left winger.
Although Real could move Mane to the right, it remains to be seen if they’d spend well over 100 million euros to play him at that position. Either way, the Mane interest appears to be real, and, more importantly, it seems as if Mane would be willing to listen to the club’s overtures.