Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye explains why Sadio Mane really was better than Mohamed Salah
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Mohamed Salah is leaving Liverpool this summer and will go down as one of the greatest players in the club’s history.With Andy Robertson also departing, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker are two of the only names left from Jurgen Klopp’s dominant squad.Alongside Salah, Sadio Mane had a key role in the Reds becoming one of the most frightening, attack-minded teams in Europe. Now, Iliman Ndiaye has suggested that the ex-Liverpool forward was the better of the two forwards because of his ability to play on the front foot and always take on his man.
Unpopular opinion: Peak Sadio Mane was better than peak Mohamed Salah… People aren't ready for that discussion… Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Julian Finney Why Sadio Mane was better than Mohamed SalahWhen speaking to FotMob via TikTok, Ndiaye was asked to say whether prime Mane was better than a number of current Premier League stars.The full list was as follows: Anthony GordonPedro NetoJeremy DokuAmad DialloJarrod BowenBryan MbeumoPhil FodenAntoine SemenyoIliman NdiayeCole PalmerRayan CherkiMohamed SalahBukayo SakaNdiaye said that Mane was better than every single one of those Premier League stars before explaining why.He said: “If you show me one video of Sadio Mane passing the ball backwards or doesn’t take on his man every single time, then.“And the goals that he’s scored, the things that he’s done, no one’s better than him.” Which centre-back must Liverpool sign to replace Konate in the starting XI? We've compiled four realistic options, but who is your choice?
How Sadio Mane fared in 2025/26Mane left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022 and is now on the books of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.Playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, the 34-year-old had a prolific season in the Middle East, scoring 14 and assisting nine in 34 matches across all competitions.Remarkably, Mane did not lose a single league game in 2025/26, with Al-Nassr only tasting defeat when he was not in the squad.In turn, it is perhaps not surprising that they were crowned Saudi Pro League champions this year, finishing two points clear of Al Hilal.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox