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Senegalese football player Sadio Mane holds a press conference at the Jacques Raimbault stadium in Bourges, Central France, on March 16, 2024.

(Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP) (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)(Image: GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images)

Idrissa Gueye has teased it is hard for him to admit just how good Sadio Mane is due to the pair’s rival allegiances in the Merseyside derby.

The Everton midfielder is currently enjoying his second stint at Goodison Park, having returned to the Blues in September 2022 after two and a half years with Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, Mane, who is currently on the books of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, is a Liverpool legend.

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Spending six seasons with the Reds, the forward scored 120 goals from 269 appearances as he won every major honour - including the Premier League and Champions League - before leaving for Bayern Munich in June 2022.

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Mane scored four goals from 13 appearances against Everton during his time at Liverpool, while he was also unbeaten from his six Merseyside derby appearances against Gueye - winning three and drawing three.

The two Senegal internationals have also made 96 appearances together for their national side, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 and also reaching the final in 2019.

Gueye has now paid tribute to Mane, opening up on their close friendship even during their time on opposing sides of Stanley Park.

But the 35-year-old also joked that the forward played for the ‘wrong’ Merseyside club as he playfully admitted it is hard for him to admit just how good a player Mane.

“He’s a great guy, a great example for everyone,” Gueye told Showmax, as quoted by Galsenfoot.

“He’s a great player, a great person, and a great friend.

“Even when he was playing for rival clubs, we always talked.

He would text me when we played against each other, and we’ve stayed in touch to this day.

“It might be hard for me to say, but Sadio is the best Senegalese player to ever play in the Premier League.

He’s shown young Africans that anything is possible.

“He’s come close to winning the Ballon d’Or, won the Champions League and the Premier League, and I hope he’ll soon give the country another Africa Cup of Nations.”


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