Former Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf believes Sadio Mane is following in his footsteps as he heaped praise on the Reds star and teammate Mohamed Salah.
Mane has quickly become one of side's standout performers since joining from Southampton in the summer of 2016, with the 27-year-old playing a key role in his side's Champions League triumph last season.
And Diouf, who over the years has been quick to stick the boot in on his former club and ex-players, opted to take a difference approach and hail the the characteristics of Mane as both a player and person.
He told fifa.com :"[Mane] is following in my footsteps.
"He's doing an incredible job. He's a fantastic ambassador for Senegal. Now he has a chance to write his own story. And on top of being a superb player, he's also a great guy – humble, generous and always available for other people. We have a special relationship."
Virgil van Dijk Diouf is the odds-on favourite to claim this year's Ballon d'Or.
But Diouf is backing Mane and Salah to give the Dutchman a run for his money.
He said: "Both are African, both are talented and both are setting an example for the next generation, like we did for them. Whichever wins, I'll be very proud. But I'm pulling for Sadio because he's my compatriot and he's like a little brother.
"Plus he has another advantage over the others: he has taste. Wherever he goes, he says that his idols are Maradona, Zidane … and El Hadji Diouf."
The 38-year-old, who joined Liverpool back in 2002, also believes the Reds can't have Mane without Salah and that the pair have all the same qualities.
"You can't have one without the other. One of them's left-footed (Salah) and the other's right-footed (Mane)," Diouf added.
"Sadio needs Mo like Mo needs Sadio. They have the same qualities: speed of execution and skill in their final touch.
"Salah is perhaps a little more effective in front of goal because he puts in less defensive work than Mane, but I'll say it again: you can't have one without the other."
