Liverpool are clearly missing Sadio Mane at the moment as Jurgen Klopp’s 2017 stumbles on. Mane has shown at Liverpool why Louis van Gaal wanted to sign him a year ago for Manchester United, and at the time many thought the Dutchman was crazy.
Southampton weren’t ready to sell until Liverpool came knocking, but Mane may have never played for the Saints in the first place had Arsenal not passed up the chance to sign him.
Mane signed for Metz in 2011 but was spending too much time on the bench for Mady Toure, who had helped launch Sane’s career in Senegal.
Quoted by French newspaper 
L’Equipe, Toure has explained that he contacted Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi at the time but was told Mane wasn’t good enough for the Gunners.
“He replied that he was insufficient… like others.”
Mane went on to impress at Red Bull Salzburg, before signing for Southampton. L’Equipe ponder whether Arsenal, and by extension Grimandi, will regret passing up the chance to sign the player.
Arsene Wenger can add Mane to his list of players who could have signed for Arsenal.
