Liverpool have had no contact from Real Madrid over Sadio Mane - despite Senegal FA chief Saer Seck suggesting the Spanish giants have made an offer to the winger.
Mane is with the Senegal squad preparing for their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Tunisia in Cairo on Sunday evening.
The Liverpool forward, who won the penalty from which Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 2-0 Champions League final win against Tottenham Hotspur last month, was strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid last year until Zinedine Zidane quit as boss after beating the Reds in the European Cup final in Kiev last May.
Mane subsequently reaffirmed his Anfield commitment by signing a new five-year deal last November and enjoyed his best season at Liverpool, scoring 26 goals in all competitions and finishing Premier League leading scorer alongside Salah and Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
However, the return of Zidane as manager at the Bernabeu earlier this year has rekindled talk of an approach from the Spanish giants.
And Senegal FA boss Seck has told Mane he should consider switching to La Liga.
“Everybody in the world knows that Mane is in the top 10 best footballers in the world and he has achieved significant success at Liverpool in the past season,” Seck told the Mirror.
“He alongside Mo Salah and Firmino are phenomenal. But this is football and he won the Champions League last season and he has the chance to go to Madrid.
"For me I think it’s the best club in the world, even if I am a Barcelona fan I still think Real is the best and Mane should be thinking of that offer seriously.
“The career of a footballer is very short and sometimes you don’t get the chance a lot so if it’s there, and I think Zidane likes him, why not?
“He played in Southampton and when the chance came he took it and went to Liverpool and he has held the challenge well in England. I think he will do well with another challenge in another country.”
The ECHO understands Liverpool have had no contact from Real Madrid and would not welcome any offers for Mane.
And if Seck's comments are accurate, it opens the possibility of the Spaniards having made an illegal approach to the player.
With the Africa Cup of Nations not finishing until Friday, Mane will the be given at least three weeks' holiday by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
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It means the Senegalese is almost certain to miss the start of the Premier League season at home to Norwich City on August 9.
“Look, it’s in the interest of Liverpool to allow him to rest properly after this AFCON," said Seck.
“Footballers like Sadio are always willing to play. We gave him 10 days off after the season and he is here with us and playing so well, so I am sure if Liverpool give him some good days it will be in his interest and that of everyone involved.
“There is no doubt he will not make it for the start of the season so it’s important he gets some really good rest to recharge his batteries.”
