One of Sadio Mane’s former teammates at Liverpool expressed shock at the player’s actions there.
Despite a dismal year at Bayern Munich defined by poor play and an off-the-field fight with teammate Leroy Sane, the Senegalese international will remain a Liverpool icon forever.
When Mane left Merseyside, the Reds were in the midst of one of their worst seasons under Jurgen Klopp.
Ask former teammate Billy Koumetio about the player’s lasting impact on the club and you’ll hear it from him directly. The 20-year-old defender, who is still on Liverpool’s books but is now on loan at Ligue 2 club USL Dunkerque, has spoken highly of Mane.
Koumetio told the Liverpool Echo, “Sadio is always the one who was there before everybody,” when asked about hanging out with the Liverpool first team. He puts in a lot of hours.
One day, I was early as well, albeit not as early as Sadio, and I got to see him pump iron. It really blew my mind. He has already started his workout at the gym.
People usually start coming in and out for meals about now, but he isn’t. He’s at the gym right now. ‘Wow’. He was relentlessly doing sit-ups. ‘Wow’.
I immediately dressed and left to have a bite to eat. Returning to the locker area, I joined him in the gym. After 30 or 45 minutes of him working, the police showed up, and guy was still there! He stayed behind after everyone else had left. ‘Wow.'”
According to Koumetio, Mane’s work ethic is excellent, and the winger, who is now playing for Al Nassr, is always willing to provide guidance to those around him.
“Sometimes he is the one who gives me advice on how to work and do things,” the Liverpool teen claimed. It’s not just him; I find myself looking up to all of them.
I observe their processes and try to learn from them. And if I were to stand there doing nothing for ten seconds or a minute, it would be like, “Billy! Why are you doing that?! Let’s get it together! Increase your generosity!
But Sadio is the one who was driving me, and I can see the results of his outlook and influence on me. It’s not just me; you also observed him chatting with the other kids, as well as Divock and Hendo chatting with the academy’s freshmen.
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