Zinedine Zidane has reportedly asked Real Madrid to sign Sadio Mane on priority, with the Liverpool forward seen as integral to his plans for next season.
Real Madrid’s disastrous season breathed new life when Zinedine Zidane returned as manager after Santiago Solari’s sacking, and the Frenchman is already making plans for next season. According to Marca, Zidane has asked the club board to sign Sadio Mane from Liverpool as he wants to build his forward line around the Senegalese star.
Madrid’s interest in the best players is no surprise for anyone, for the La Liga giants are known to acquire top players at the best prices. Since Zidane’s return, Madrid have been linked with many big names, with strong links to PSG duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. While those signings may require significant investment in the summer, Zidane also has other targets to improve is fraile forward line.
To that end, the Frenchman has made Liverpool hit-man Mane his primary target in the summer, as he views the forward as integral to his plans for the 2019-20 season. Zidane has been known to admire the Liverpool star for quite some time now and had asked the club to sign him last summer as well.
Some reports suggest Real Madrid had even reached agreement over personal terms with the forward at the end of last season, although Zidane’s surprise departure led to the transfer being stalled.
However, Zidane will reportedly look to pursue Mane once more when the summer window opens and will be hoping his club open discussions with Liverpool as soon as possible.
Mane has been integral to Liverpool’s season so far. The forward, usually playing from the left side of the attack has netted 20 goals in all competitions, including 17 in the Premier League. His performances in recent games have been terrific and with Mohamed Salah enduring a goal drought currently, Mane has been the man to get Liverpool the much-needed goals.
It has also been reported that Real Madrid were highly impressed by Mane, especially in his performance against Bayern Munich in the second leg, wherein he scored twice to send Liverpool into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Zidane, however, must be well aware that Mane would not come cheap.
As for Real Madrid, signing Mbappe or Neymar might or might not happen, but they can be realistic about their plans and pursue Mane instead. The Senegalese superstar has proved he is capable of big things, and at 26, he has the world at his feet, and it now remains to be seen if he leaves Liverpool to make his way to the Bernabeu in the summer.
