---
title: "Liverpool: Lionel Messi wanted Barcelona to sign Sadio Mane last summer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/mane-messi-barcelona-liverpool/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Liverpool Football Club"
published: "2022-02-08T17:35:35Z"
modified: "2022-02-08T17:35:35Z"
---

# Liverpool: Lionel Messi wanted Barcelona to sign Sadio Mane last summer

**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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sadio-mane/erfolge/spieler/200512) the Premier League and Champions League, not to mention [scoring 107 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sadio-mane/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/200512/verein/31) 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.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″\]

### The Latest: Messi wanted Liverpool star at Barcelona

According to journalist Sique Rodriguez \[via [Fichajes](https://www.fichajes.com/a7897882857271534532-fc-barcelona-sadio-mane-fue-uno-de-los-requisitos-de-leo-messi) and [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.co.uk/claim-lionel-messi-requested-signing-liverpool-player-club-directly-engaged-talks-reds-wall/)\], [football superstar](https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-barcelona-legend-dubs-lionel-messi-god-football) 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.

[Latest Liverpool transfer news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-19/)

### 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109915/History/Sadio-Man%C3%A9) 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](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109915/Fixtures/Sadio-Man%C3%A9) for the Reds since November – but he would still walk into most teams, given his [consistently strong goal record](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109915/History/Sadio-Man%C3%A9).

With his current deal [expiring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/sadio-mane/profil/spieler/200512) 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](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-news-jurgen-klopp-world-class-sadio-mane-a9608111.html) as ‘unbelievable’ by Klopp.

***In other news, a journalist has made a transfer claim regarding a Liverpool target. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-fc-transfer-rumours/liverpool-journalist-makes-fabio-carvalho-transfer-claim/).***