lembu
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 31, 2009
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Sadio Mane (Liverpool star) said that his parents have been telling him pursuit football career was a waste of time, right up until he signed his first contract in 2011 with Metz, before moving to Red Bull Salzburg and Southampton prior to his Liverpool switch.
Mane, 26yrs old, has developed into one of the key elements of Liverpool dangerous attack strikers, alongside with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
He also said his parents never believed on a career in football as a possibility, urging him to instead to pursuing a teaching career.
Mane was born in a village where there had never been a footballer who'd made it in the major league or championships.
Mane. "I remember that when I was little boy, my parents felt that I should study to become a teacher. They thought football was a waste of time and I'd never succeed at it".
"I always said: 'This is the only job that will enable me to help you. And I think I have a chance to become a footballer".
"They didn't believe in it because I was away from the capital and almost nobody from there had succeeded in football career. So they were against the idea right up until the day when I signed my first professional contract."
Liverpool star said his parents eventually accepted his career choice and supported his decision.
"I gave it everything. It got to the point where they didn't really have a choice, so they started helping me, and it worked. Today, they're all proud."
The striker scored 45 goals in 87 appearances with Red Bull Salzburg and again scored 25 goals in 75 appearances with Southampton. He has currently scored 37 goals for Liverpool in 77 appearances.