Sadio Mane Pleased by Real Madrid Rumours Despite Happiness at Liverpool

Sadio Mane has said it is "a pleasure" to be linked with Real Madrid, but he made it clear he is happy at Liverpool as they prepare for Saturday's UEFA Champions League final clash with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Senegal international has been touted as potential target for Real manager Zinedine Zidane as he looks to add more firepower to his squad this summer, but Mane said he is not looking to depart Anfield, per Andy Hunter in the Guardian:

"This is always part of football, so we have to deal with it, but for me the most important thing is Liverpool, and I'm happy here. I'm preparing for one of the biggest games for the club and the fans and the players as well, so let's focus on this one first and win it. It's always a pleasure that this kind of team wants you, but don't forget Liverpool. We beat big teams."

Mane, 27, finished the 2018-19 Premier League campaign as the division's joint-top scorer after netting 22 goals in 36 appearances, quite the improvement on his 10 in 29 from 2017-18.

He and his team-mates were left disappointed domestically, though, as they finished second in the league to Manchester City despite accruing 97 points:

Winning the Champions League would be quite the consolation prize for Jurgen Klopp's side, and they are favourites to beat Spurs at Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. However, Liverpool do not have a good record in finals under the German manager.

They lost last year's Champions League final to Real Madrid, the 2016 UEFA Europa League final to Sevilla, and the 2016 League Cup final to City on penalties.

Mane added that failing to break Liverpool's 29-year league title drought this season "will give us more motivation" to lift the famous European trophy.

Certainly the Reds have a great deal of momentum having finished the Premier League season with nine wins on the bounce. They are also likely to be boosted by Roberto Firmino's return:

Firmino, Mane and Mohamed Salah make up one of the best attacking lines in the world, and if they are all fit and firing against Spurs, the north London side will have little chance of causing an upset.