It is always interesting to keep a watch over how the careers of former stars continue once they leave Liverpool.
The Reds have become good at recognising when it’s time to move a player on over recent years, with a number of top players failing to get going after leaving Anfield.
One of those who falls into this category is Sadio Mane. Mane earned the status of Liverpool legend during his six years with the Reds, winning everything he possibly could under Jurgen Klopp.
And although it was a real blow to lose the forward back in 2022, he flopped at Bayern Munich and has since moved to the Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr.
After watching his time at Al Nassr so far, it has even been claimed that Mohamed Salah is using Mane’s fall from grace as a reason not to join the Saudi Pro Leauge.
Whether that’s true or not, it is clear that the best time of Mane’s career came at Liverpool. And the Senegalese has now revealed that his years on Merseyside also led to him making a friend for life.
Sadio Mane reveals Gini Wijnaldum friendship
Mane is of course far from being the only former Liverpool star currently playing out in Saudi Arabia.
Roberto Firmino made up the second third of the Reds all-star forward line under Klopp and Bobby is also over in the Middle East turning out for Al Ahli. Fabinho, who spent four years alongside Mane at Liverpool, is at Al Ittihad.
Finally, Fabinho’s former midfield partner Gini Wijnaldum is another who calls the Pro League home. Wijnaldum plays for Steven Gerrard’s side Al Ettifaq.
And according to Mane, it is Wijnaldum who he has continued to be in contact with more than three years after their shared time at Liverpool came to a close.
READ MORE: Liverpool fans re-create Gini Wijnaldum chant for current Reds star
“Gini is one of my very good friends,” the 32-year-old said in quotes via the Liverpool ECHO.
“And (with) Gini, it’s more than football, because our relationship came naturally. Because, when I was in Liverpool, we came at the same time, and he is this kind of person that once he is in the team he becomes friends with everybody. Everybody likes him.
“He is special,” adds Mane. “And this is the reason when I was there we’ve been good friends – and he was always in my house. Sometimes he would call me to come to my house, and I’m like ‘No, not yet. Get out of here!’.
“He always wants to make fun, and I like this about him. He has a good heart; I can speak about him until tomorrow non-stop. He is amazing and we’re still keeping contact. And that’s really important.”
How is Gini Wijnaldum doing in Saudi Arabia?
With so many of Klopp’s great Liverpool squad now departed – and the German himself now a ‘former’ manager – it feels a long time ago since Mane and Wijnaldum were in red together.
In hindsight, although Liverpool let Mane leave at the right time, the same can possibly not be said for Wijnaldum.
It took the Reds a long, long time to replace Gini and although his career has suffered since his exit, the Dutchman could surely have done a job for Liverpool for a few more years.
Almost 34 and seeing his career wind down, Wijnaldum perhaps feels the same way. The former Liverpool No.5 is a key player for Gerrard, starting six out of six in their league campaign so far. But it’s a far cry from winning a Champions League and Premier League with the Reds.
It would be interesting to hear if Mane and Wijnaldum ever reminisce about their days conquering world football together with Liverpool while hanging out these days.
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