Sadio Mane's agent addresses surprise return links after Liverpool reunion mooted

Sadio Mane’s agent Bjorn Bezemer has quashed rumours over a potential departure from Al-Nassr, affirming his contentment in Saudi Arabia despite whispers of a stunning return to Red Bull Salzburg.

Since his transfer to Al-Nassr in the summer of 2023, Mane has scored 13 goals in the Saudi Pro League and helped the club secure a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League Elite. The 32-year-old is tied to the club until 2026, yet this hasn’t stopped talk about a potential departure.

Reports in Austria have speculated that Mane could make a nostalgic return to Red Bull Salzburg, the club he bid farewell to in 2014. The recent appointment of Pep Lijnders as the Austrian side’s manager has only fuelled such rumours, given their shared history at Liverpool.

However, Bezemer has put these rumours to bed. With Al-Nassr gearing up for the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League season kicking off in August, expectations are high that Mane will be donning their colours.

“I did not have any meeting with clubs regarding Sadio,” Bezemer said to Fabrizio Romano. “He is preparing the season with Al Nassr and has absolutely no intention to leave. His club is extremely happy with him.”

Mane’s stint at Salzburg was a very enjoyable one, racking up 45 goals in 87 matches while clinching the Austrian Bundesliga title in 2014 before making his move to Southampton in the Premier League.

“I love the city and the club before and still now,” declared Mane in 2019, ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League clash with Salzburg. The Senegalese forward netted in a thrilling 4-3 triumph over his former team at Anfield.

Current Salzburg manager Lijnders, who had two stints working closely with Liverpool’s first team, was rumoured to take over the reins after Jurgen Klopp’s departure was announced. However, he chose to embark on a new journey in Austria instead.

“I always said I will finish with Jurgen; the moment I will not assist anyone else, that’s the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case,” Lijnders said in May as he bid farewell to Liverpool.

“So when we spoke, it was clear for me: OK, then I go and manage, and we end this project together [that] we started. But yeah, it’s not easy.

“My boys, my wife; my boys are two proper Scousers and their whole life they will be. Maybe posh ones! But still! I cannot say thank you enough to everybody involved. I’m grateful. Mike [Gordon] and myself had a good talk later, I’m really grateful for that and that makes me [feel] as well that I can leave the club consciously.”