Mane reveals dream five-a-side team, snubs Salah

Ex-Liverpool forward, Sadio Mane, has revealed his dream five-a-side team made up of players he has played alongside, and notably, former Liverpool teammate, Mo Salah, did not make the list.

According to Planet Football on Friday, Mane shared his selections during an interview with ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

The Al-Nassr winger named the following players:

Virgil van Dijk – Unsurprisingly, the Dutch defender was Mane’s first pick. Mane described Van Dijk as one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, ranking him alongside Ferdinand. “He’s after you [Ferdinand],” Mane said. “It’s you and Van Dijk. You know it, I know it. This is no discussion.”

Kalidou Koulibaly – Mane also included his Senegal national teammate Koulibaly, with whom he won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. While they never played together at club level, both are now based in Saudi Arabia, with Koulibaly currently at Al-Hilal.

Philippe Coutinho – Mane described Coutinho as “a special player.” They spent only a season and a half together at Liverpool, but Coutinho was in outstanding form during that period, impressing Mane with his creativity and consistency.

Roberto Firmino – Mane heaped praise on his former Liverpool teammate, calling him “exceptional” both on and off the pitch. “I never saw a football player and a human as kind in my life as Bobby,” he said, emphasising Firmino’s unique personality and the strong bond they shared.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Mane completed his five-a-side team with Cristiano Ronaldo, his teammate at Al-Nassr. “He is an example for every kind of football player in the world. I have never seen another player like him, that’s for sure,” Mane added.

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