Liverpool

Balague: Mane is not a Real Madrid target

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Guillem Balague has dismissed the possibility of Real Madrid making a concerted summer pursuit of Sadio Mane.

The Spanish football expert and BBC journalist explained why Liverpool and their fans need not be concerned by reports suggesting new Real Madrid is readying a mega-money swoop for the Senegalese forward.

Speaking on the Ask Guillem section of Football Index’s YouTube account (03:40), Balague delivered an emphatic response when asked if the Spanish giants are working on a deal to sign Mane.”No,” he said, before explaining Real’s transfer plans. “The intention is to get a striker. No money at the moment. They want as well a centre-back and a couple of midfielders. But Zidane wants to see who responds to him over the next couple of months.”

OPINION

This is music to the ears of Liverpool fans who will have been concerned by reports, including in the reliable France Football, in recent days that new Real manager Zinedine Zidane has made Mane one of his prime summer targets. The forward has been the most in-form forward in Europe bar Lionel Messi over the last few months and has done more than anyone to keep Liverpool in the title race as their thrilling battle with Manchester City looks set to go down to the wire. His glut of goals, many of which have been quite brilliantly conceived and executed, have further demonstrated the depth of the talent of an unpredictable forward who is capable of reaching rare heights. Mane has been overshadowed by Mohamed Salah for much of the last two campaigns, but he is emerging as world-class player in his own right. Liverpool certainly can’t afford to lose him.

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