Loads of football fans from various clubs have been slating former Arsenal and Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas on social media, after the Spaniard hailed Liverpool winger Sadio Mane as one of the top three players in the world.
Fabregas, who won two Premier League titles while at Stamford Bridge before joining AS Monaco, hailed Mane’s talents as Liverpool beat FC Red Bull Salzburg 4-3 in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with the Senegalese forward opening the scoring in the ninth minute.
Mane struck his only goal of the night after collecting possession deep on the left wing from Andy Roberston, before running at Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen while under pressure from Takumi Minamino, with neither able to prevent the Reds forward from playing a quick one-two with Roberto Firmino before slotting the ball through Cican Stankovic’s legs.
Liverpool established a 3-0 lead before a Salzburg fightback saw the Austrian outfit hit the Anfield natives draw level, only for Mohamed Salah to salvage the win in the 69th minute as he secured his brace and Firmino’s second assist.
Mane, meanwhile, would end the game having unfurled one further shot, while playing three key balls amid 37 accurate passes, six successful dribbles, two tackles and winning two aerial duels, according to data collected by WhoScored.
The 27-year-old’s only goal of the Champions League affair was Mane’s seventh of the season across all competitions (TransferMarkt), and 66th in 133 games for Liverpool.
Mané for me is top 3 players in the world and has been for a while. Top top level.
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) October 2, 2019
Fabregas’ lavish praise comes after Mane finished fifth in the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year voting behind Lionel Messi, Virgil van Dijk, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Salah (Evening Standard), with Mane tacking 23 voting points – half that of winner Messi and three shy of that achieved by Salah.
Football fans from around the country were in disagreement with Fabregas for suggesting Mane should have ranked higher, though.
Here are some of the responses shared…
too inconsistent to be that level
— ²¹ (@Hazo_AG21) October 2, 2019
KDB, Hazard, Sterling, Silva, Lewandowski, Even Van Dijk according to scousers. Plenty better.
— MCFC FanView (@MCFCFanView) October 2, 2019
Excuse me? Lmao Messi kdb Ronaldo mbappe lewandowski even gnabry is having a mental season atm
— Ryan Guerrier (@RStephaneG) October 2, 2019
Too many Sangria’s Cesc, sober up mate
— Tom B (@1905Tom) October 2, 2019
Awful opinion
— Cathal (@MG26i) October 2, 2019
Someone trying to buy likes in every corner
— DaniCeballos Just On Loan (@DennisuarezL) October 2, 2019
Just wrong
— Jorgi (@RegistaEdition) October 3, 2019
Calm down cesc, he’s not even Liverpool’s best player
— George (@UtdCentro) October 2, 2019
So you think Mané>Hazard then? Because top 2 is undisputed Messi & Neymar
— Adroit Cadet (@Adroit_Cadet) October 2, 2019
Willian >
— Lamps (@CFCLamps_) October 2, 2019
He’s only just top 3 at Liverpool mate. (Van Dijk & Salah).
— William (fan account) (@OzilThings) October 2, 2019
How? Özil, Pogba and Thorgan Hazard are top 3
— Kendaf – M1O (@JustGaming09) October 2, 2019
You really think Mané is better than Neymar? Come on Cesc
— AllThingsSelecao (@SelecaoTalk) October 2, 2019
Do you agree with Fabregas’ claim that Mane is among the top three players in the world? Have your say by commenting below!
