The 30-year-old has been in exceptional form for the Reds in English football but opted to seek a new challenge elsewhere.

Sadio Mane's advisor Bacary Cisse has revealed Argentina and PSG superstar Lionel Messi wanted to play alongside the Senegal international at Barcelona.

The Lion of Teranga recently ended his successful six-year stay at Liverpool by sealing a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old signed a deal that will see him stay with the Bavarians until 2025.

However, it has now emerged that the versatile attacker could have left the Merseyside-based charges earlier as confirmed by his representative.

"Last year, he could have done it with FC Barcelona too," Cisse told RMC on the After Foot Show.

"It was Lionel Messi who wanted Sadio Mane, when it was a question of him extending to Barca. Before [eventually] going to Paris Saint-Germain, he had given two names; Sadio Mane and an Argentine central defender.

"It was in June when they were in the middle of the Copa America."

The Spanish heavyweights had to let Messi leave owing to their financial struggles.