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Lionel Messi wanted Barcelona to sign Sadio Mané last year

Before he left Barcelona in strange, controversial circumstances last summer, Lionel Messi wanted to club to sign then Liverpool forward Sadio Mané to form an explosive attacking duo, according to Mané’s agent Bacary Cissé.

Mané has recently joined Bayern Munich in a big-money move from Liverpool, a transfer that incidentally could help Barcelona’s pursuit of Robert Lewandowski. After a great career with Liverpool Mané is off to Germany for a new challenge, but he could have gone to a different country 12 months ago.

Speaking to French media this week, Mané’s agent Bacary Cissé revealed that Lionel Messi asked Barça to acquire the Senegalese winger as one of the conditions to sign a new contract with the club.