Could one of Liverpool’s greatest legends be preparing for a jaw-dropping return to the Premier League — this time in black and white? Sadio Mane has once again set tongues wagging after a mysterious encounter led him to say three little words that ignited a media firestorm: “Never say never.”
In what seemed like a casual run-in, former Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane reportedly bumped into Martin Callanan, a Newcastle-born Conservative peer, during an EITI conference in Senegal. But this wasn’t your average photo-op. As Callanan shared later on social media:
> “I’m in Senegal speaking at the EITI conference. Honoured to meet Sadio Mane in the hotel. I couldn’t resist asking him about coming to Newcastle next season. His enigmatic reply: ‘Never say never!’”
And just like that, speculation exploded.
Once a £34 million signing for Liverpool from Southampton in 2016, Mane carved his name into Anfield folklore, netting 120 goals and registering 46 assists under Jurgen Klopp, winning everything from the Premier League to the Champions League. His dazzling spell ended when he joined Bayern Munich in 2022 for £27 million — a move that, in hindsight, turned sour.
His stint in Germany unravelled rapidly. A pre-World Cup injury, followed by a shocking dressing room bust-up with Leroy Sane, led to Bayern pushing him toward the exit. And just as he was drifting in football limbo, the Newcastle whisper first floated — and now, it’s back with a bang.
Instead, Mane took an unexpected route, signing for Saudi side Al-Nassr, where he’s still firing — 62 goal contributions in 93 matches speak volumes. Unlike many fading stars coasting through Saudi Arabia, Mane’s intensity hasn’t dropped.
His “Never say never” response may have sounded diplomatic — but for Newcastle fans craving that marquee signing, it offered a glimmer of something more: hope. And when it comes from a legend like Mane, hope turns into headlines.
True, with Mane now 33 and tied to Al-Nassr until 2026, a move back to England might seem a stretch. But Mane has a history of flipping the script. Who could forget his admission in a Telegraph interview about nearly joining Manchester United before Klopp’s intervention?
> “I was really close to going to Manchester United. I had the contract there. I had it all agreed. It was all ready, but instead, I thought, ‘No, I want to go to Liverpool.’
I was convinced to go with Klopp’s project. I still remember the first time I got the call from Klopp. He said, ‘We have a big project at Liverpool and I want you to be part of it.’”
So while some might laugh off the Newcastle chatter, those familiar with Mane’s unpredictable journey know better. He’s changed course before — and he could again.
Despite the current contract and age, one thing is crystal clear: Sadio Mane hasn’t closed the door on Newcastle United. In fact, he’s slightly nudged it open. And in a sport driven by surprises, that’s all it takes for dreamers to believe.
