Mumbai: Newly-crowned Premier League champion with Liverpool, Sadio Mane has spoken about his long-awaited desire to win the coveted Ballon d’Or someday and also to visit football-mad India someday. The 2020 Ballon d’Or awards were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has heaped praise on the Senegal star, when he termed the winger’s fourth-place finish in the 2019 Ballon d’Or vote as ‘shameful’. Upgraded by the Argentine genius’ affection for him as well as his own stellar performance, Mane expressed his desire to lift the trophy by his own hands someday or the other.
“Will see what’s going to happen for the Ballon d’Or but my dream is to win the Ballon d’Or and would love to do it one day,” Mane was quoted as saying during a television show. Mane played a stellar role for Liverpool as the Reds pocketed the Premier League for the first time in 30 years.
Having begun his professional career at an age of 19 with FC Metz, Mane signed for the London club in 2016 and has played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s road to Champions League finals back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 winning the latter. He also finished as 2018–19 Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer and won the Golden Boot.
“I always say that in life, you always have to be a challenger and for sure, football is all about being hungry in a good way – to like to win. We won the Premier League and we would like to win it again and for sure, Champions League as well,” asserted Mane, who currently ranks fifth among all-time goalscorer’s list and eighth all-time in terms of appearances for Senegal.
Illustrating his exhilaration in winning the Premier League, he recited, “Well, it’s a big pleasure and a big honour for me and my teammates for sure. All the good support from around the world, especially from India as well. I think the wait has been so long, 30 years and finally, we did it, so yeah, really happy.”
He also credited his manager Jurgen Klopp behind Liverpool’s victory. “He gives us a lot of advice all the time which is always important for you and all the players in our career. He helped us take responsibility in the hard times, which is not really easy,” said the 28-year-old.
“Honestly, it was a really tough season for us, my teammates and the fans as well because the beginning was not easy – too many contenders Man City, United, Chelsea, Arsenal. If I were to choose my favourite moment was when we opened up the gap over Manchester City. I think everybody could breathe at that time.”
Finally speaking on his India visit, Mane said, “My dream is to visit India one day. I have seen a lot about the country on YouTube and I really like it. We follow all your posts and comments. I want to thank you all for supporting us, keep supporting us and we will do everything possible to make you guys proud. We are the best.”
