Catalan giants Barcelona are reportedly weighing up a 2023 Bosman move for Sadio Mane, with the Liverpool forward keen on joining Real Madrid.
According to a report by Catalunya Radio, Barcelona could look to secure the services of Sadio Mane in a Bosman move in the summer transfer window in 2023. But the Liverpool forward is reportedly keen on joining Real Madrid, while the Merengues are not interested in signing him.
Sadio Mane has blossomed into one of the best wide attackers in Europe since joining Liverpool from Southampton in July 2016. Over the last six years, the Senegalese international has gone from strength to strength, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool’s transformation into a formidable unit.
The 30-year-old has made 266 appearances for Liverpool thus far, raking in 119 goals and 47 assists in the process. But Mane’s contract situation has left Liverpool in a spot of bother as his deal runs out next year. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona.
The interest from Barcelona stems from the uncertainties surrounding the futures of several wide attackers in the first-team setup. While Ousmane Dembele’s contract situation is yet to be cleared out, Adama Traore will not rejoin Barcelona permanently in the summer transfer window. In addition, Memphis Depay could depart from Camp Nou after just one year.
Mane has thus emerged as a viable target for Barcelona, with the Liverpool forward reportedly open to joining them. But while Mane might not be opposed to the idea of moving to Barcelona, he is keen on joining Real Madrid, according to Defensa Central, putting a spanner in the works for the Blaugrana.
But the Spanish outlet suggests that Real Madrid will not have Mane in their plans heading into the summer transfer window, with Kylian Mbappe their priority target. So Mane’s future remains unclear amid his desire to join Real Madrid ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Mane recently insisted that he is happy at Liverpool amid widespread speculation surrounding his future. So while Barcelona might attempt to sign him in a Bosman move in 2023, Mane could well commit his future to Liverpool due to Real Madrid’s stance over signing him this year.