New Al Nassr star Sadio Mane reveals reasons behind move to Saudi Pro League


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New Al Nassr star Sadio Mane revealed he was encouraged to join the Saudi Pro League by former Liverpool teammates – but, most importantly, by his mum.

As the new season kicks off this weekend, the former Anfield striker, who joined Al Nassr from Bayern Munich, spoke for the first time of the reasons behind his move to Saudi Arabia.

The Senegal striker enjoyed a warm embrace with old Anfield teammate Jordan Henderson at the official Saudi Pro League launch event in Jeddah, and he admits the former Liverpool skipper is just one past colleague he has a strong connection with ahead of the new season.

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard took Henderson under his wing as Al Ettifaq coach, while Mane’s former strike partner Roberto Firmino will play for Al Ahli and midfielder Fabinho has signed for champions Al Ittihad.

Mane joked about how Firmino and Fabinho had both encouraged him to join them at their new clubs. “I think first of all I spoke with Firmino for sure,” he said. “I think he wanted me to come to the wrong club – I’m joking! He always called two or three times to convince me to come to Al Ahli.

“At the same time I spoke with Fabinho because he was quite close to me and he also wanted me to come to Al Ittihad, but in this time when Al Nassr came, I chose Al Nassr.

“Of course Henderson is here also, and he sent me a message two days ago to wish me good luck and I’m excited to meet all these great guys and also to meet them face to face for the first time. I’m going to win against you guys!”

Mane may have had words of encouragement from his former teammates, but it was some sound advice from his mother that sealed the deal.

He said: “Since I had the opportunity I spoke to my family, and they were happiest of course because it is a Muslim country. My mum especially encouraged me to go.

“My mum is Muslim like me, she was the first to vote for me to go there and my whole family was excited for me to come here so it was not hard – it is important to my faith. I am pleased to be part of this project and to make it go forward, we have a bright future ahead.”

Mane will team up with former Manchester United rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr as the Riyadh giants aim to go one better than their second-place finish to Al Ittihad last term. The prospect of a mouthwatering attacking partnership with Ronaldo also played a big part in Mane’s decision.

He said: “I think you can see how quick everything goes for me, because he is one of the best players in history if not the best of course, and that was easy for me, he makes it easier for me. And (Brazil midfielder) Talisca and the other boys, they are all really great players and I am really excited to start the league with all these boys to make the club a real success.”

Mane admits he has been “really impressed” by the Saudi players since training with the Al Nassr squad, and another former teammate agrees about the genuine talent in the league.

Mane’s international teammate Edouard Mendy is another big-name starting a new chapter in Saudi this season.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s best keepers having won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup with Chelsea, as well as the African Cup of Nations alongside Mane for Senegal, Mendy is set to turn out alongside Brazilian Firmino as well as Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin in a star-studded Al Ahli line up.

Sadio Mane with Al Nassr's chief executive, Ahmed Alghamdi, after his signing for the club. Al Nassr Football Club / Reuters
Sadio Mane with Al Nassr's chief executive, Ahmed Alghamdi, after his signing for the club. Al Nassr Football Club / Reuters

The 31-year-old is confident this season’s influx of talent can quickly take Saudi’s players to the next level.

He said: “We could see in the World Cup, the Saudi players are very good technically, they know how to use the ball, they are really comfortable with the ball.

“So it was not a surprise to me to see the quality of the young players and also the experienced players – they just need to have the principles and they will improve, this is what we are doing.

“We want them to be at the highest level possible, and that’s why we work closely with the young players to help them to be better and better every day.”

When it comes to personal targets and demands, Mendy is as hungry as ever.

“My ambitions for the next year and the coming years is the same as at Chelsea, my previous club: to win and to perform in the best way possible. This club is used to winning trophies, so we know the expectations and we have to deliver on the pitch.”

The 2023/24 Saudi Pro League season kicks off in Jeddah on Friday, August 11, as Al Ahli take on Al Hazem at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

Al Nassr travel to Al Ettifaq on Monday, August 14.

Biggest deals of Saudi Pro League 2023/24

  • Neymar – PSG to Al Hilal. Fee: ($98.5m). Contract: TBC (2 years). @Alhilal_FC / twitter
    Neymar – PSG to Al Hilal. Fee: ($98.5m). Contract: TBC (2 years). @Alhilal_FC / twitter
  • TOP SAUDI PRO LEAGUE DEALS 2023/24: Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $439 million (2 years). EPA
    TOP SAUDI PRO LEAGUE DEALS 2023/24: Karim Benzema – Real Madrid to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $439 million (2 years). EPA
  • N’Golo Kante – Chelsea to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $377.6m (2 years). EPA
    N’Golo Kante – Chelsea to Al Ittihad. Fee: Free. Contract: $377.6m (2 years). EPA
  • Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich to Al Nassr. Fee: $30.6m. Contract: $175.2m (4 years). Reuters
    Sadio Mane – Bayern Munich to Al Nassr. Fee: $30.6m. Contract: $175.2m (4 years). Reuters
  • Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City to Al Ahli. Fee: $38.4m. Contract: $150m (3 years). Reuters
    Riyad Mahrez – Manchester City to Al Ahli. Fee: $38.4m. Contract: $150m (3 years). Reuters
  • Jordan Henderson – Liverpool to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $15.3m. Contract: $140.4m (3 years). Reuters
    Jordan Henderson – Liverpool to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $15.3m. Contract: $140.4m (3 years). Reuters
  • Marcelo Brozovic – Inter Milan to Al Nassr. Fee: $19.7m. Contract: $114m (3 years). Getty
    Marcelo Brozovic – Inter Milan to Al Nassr. Fee: $19.7m. Contract: $114m (3 years). Getty
  • Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea to Al Hilal. Fee: $21.7m. Contract: $99m (3 years). AFP
    Kalidou Koulibaly – Chelsea to Al Hilal. Fee: $21.7m. Contract: $99m (3 years). AFP
  • Fabinho – Liverpool to Al Ittihad. Fee: $51m. Contract: $81.9m (3 years). PA
    Fabinho – Liverpool to Al Ittihad. Fee: $51m. Contract: $81.9m (3 years). PA
  • Malcom – Zenit St Petersburg to Al Hilal. Fee: $65.8m. Contract: $79.2m (4 years). AP
    Malcom – Zenit St Petersburg to Al Hilal. Fee: $65.8m. Contract: $79.2m (4 years). AP
  • Roberto Firmino – Liverpool to Al Ahli. Fee: Free. Contract: $66m (3 years). @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter
    Roberto Firmino – Liverpool to Al Ahli. Fee: Free. Contract: $66m (3 years). @ALAHLI_FC / Twitter
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio to Al Hilal. Fee: $44m. Contract: $66m (3 years). Reuters
    Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio to Al Hilal. Fee: $44m. Contract: $66m (3 years). Reuters
  • Jack Hendry – Club Brugge to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $8.3m. Contract: $58.2m (3 years). AFP
    Jack Hendry – Club Brugge to Al Ettifaq. Fee: $8.3m. Contract: $58.2m (3 years). AFP
  • Ruben Neves – Wolves to Al Hilal. Fee: $60m. Contract: $55.2m (3 years). AFP
    Ruben Neves – Wolves to Al Hilal. Fee: $60m. Contract: $55.2m (3 years). AFP
  • Seko Fofana – Lens to Al Nassr. Fee: $27.4m. Contract: $45.9m (3 years). AFP
    Seko Fofana – Lens to Al Nassr. Fee: $27.4m. Contract: $45.9m (3 years). AFP
  • Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United to Al Ahli. Fee: $32m. Contract: $38.1m (3 years). PA
    Allan Saint-Maximin – Newcastle United to Al Ahli. Fee: $32m. Contract: $38.1m (3 years). PA
  • Jota – Celtic to Al Ittihad. Fee: $32m. Contract: $36.9m (3 years). AFP
    Jota – Celtic to Al Ittihad. Fee: $32m. Contract: $36.9m (3 years). AFP
  • Edouard Mendy – Chelsea to Al Ahli. Fee: $20.4m. Contract: $36m (3 years). AFP
    Edouard Mendy – Chelsea to Al Ahli. Fee: $20.4m. Contract: $36m (3 years). AFP
  • Alex Telles – Manchester United to Al Nassr. Fee: $4.4m. Contract: $27m (3 years). AFP
    Alex Telles – Manchester United to Al Nassr. Fee: $4.4m. Contract: $27m (3 years). AFP
  • Moussa Dembele – Lyon to Al Ettifaq. Fee: Free. Contract: Unknown (4 years). AFP
    Moussa Dembele – Lyon to Al Ettifaq. Fee: Free. Contract: Unknown (4 years). AFP
  • Franck Kessie - Barcelona to Al Ahli. Fee: $13.7m. Contract: Three years. Getty
    Franck Kessie - Barcelona to Al Ahli. Fee: $13.7m. Contract: Three years. Getty
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Bantamweight: Jalal Al Daaja (JOR) beat Hamza Bougamza (MAR)

Catchweight 67kg: Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) beat Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lightweight: Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) beat Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg: Mosatafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) beat Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

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Catchweight 78KG: Rashed Dawood (UAE) beat Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight: Sallah-Eddine Dekhissi (MAR) beat Abdel Enam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg: Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG) beat Rachid Hazoume (MAR)

Lightweight: Mohammed Yahya (UAE) beat Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg: Souhil Tahiri (ALG) beat Omar Hussein (PAL)

Middleweight: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

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