Former Liverpool striker John Barnes has issued a transfer warning to Sadio Mane and told him to look at Philippe Coutinho as a prime example of the grass not always being greener.
The Brazilian left Anfield in 2018 in a big-money transfer to Barcelona that could see the Reds receive around £142m.
Since Coutinho’s departure, Liverpool have gone from strength to strength while it has been less than straightforward for the former Reds playmaker.
Having failed to settle in at the Nou Camp, Coutinho was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich for the 2019/20 campaign.
And although he claimed the Bundesliga, German Cup and the Champions League with Bayern last season, the German club opted not to make his move permanent as his future at the Camp Nou is still subject to speculation.
Mane, who scored 22 goals last season in all competitions, as well as claiming 12 assists as Liverpool won the Premier League, has been linked with a move away from Anfield in the past.
But Barnes believes the Senegal forward should look to remain at Anfield and continue to establish himself as one of the best players in the club’s history.
“Philippe Coutinho was going to be the greatest, but then he left after five years,” the former winger told the Express.
“The only way players will be regarded as the one of the best Liverpool players, is if they stay at the club for a long period of time.
“I hope Sadio Mane does that, he’s been terrific since his transfer from Southampton in 2016.”
Before Barnes continued: “If Fernando Torres or Luis Suarez were at Liverpool for 10 years, they would both have been in the Liverpool all-time XI.
“If Sadie Mane is going to stay for a prolonged period of time performing at a high level, then of course he can get into the all-time Liverpool XI.
“He is a phenomenally good player with outstanding ability and could definitely project himself into legendary status at Anfield if he keeps it consistent with the high-class performances.”
