Lionel Messi wanted Barcelona to sign Liverpool forward Sadio Mane last summer, with their failure to get him playing a part in the Argentine leaving the club, according to a fresh claim.
The Lowdown: Mane a modern Liverpool great
Mane has been an incredible servant for Liverpool, winning the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention scoring 107 goals in 244 appearances.
The 29-year-old has also been excelling on the international stage of late, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal and scoring the winning penalty in the final.
There is no doubt that Mane is a modern Liverpool great, but a new claim suggests that he could potentially have departed Anfield by now.
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The Latest: Messi wanted Liverpool star at Barcelona
According to journalist Sique Rodriguez [via Fichajes and Sport Witness], football superstar Messi was desperate for Barcelona to sign the Liverpool forward in order to bolster their squad.
It is stated that the La Liga giants 'directly' spoke to Mane's representatives about a move but it never came to fruition, playing a role in Messi eventually joining Paris Saint-Germain.
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The Verdict: Never going to happen
In truth, Liverpool opting to sell Mane was simply never on the cards last year, given his continued importance to Jurgen Klopp's team. It seems doubtful that he would have wanted to leave, either, given that the 29-year-old has been a regular first-team presence at Anfield ever since coming to the club in 2016.
The Senegalese may arguably be a little bit past his absolute peak - he has only scored once for the Reds since November - but he would still walk into most teams, given his consistently strong goal record.
With his current deal expiring in 2023, Liverpool have a long-term decision to make, but Mane still has enough in the tank to be a force for several more years, having been described as 'unbelievable' by Klopp.
In other news, a journalist has made a transfer claim regarding a Liverpool target. Find out who it is here.