One of Jurgen Klopp’s biggest mistakes in football was not signing Sadio Mane for Borussia Dortmund in 2014.
Mane, a Red Bull Salzburg player at the time, held talks with then-Dortmund boss Klopp about joining the Bundeslia club.
But the German coach opted against signing the Senegal attacker, who subsequently became a Southampton player for £11million.
Mane scored 25 goals in his two seasons at St Mary’s before Klopp brought him to Anfield in a £34million deal in 2016.
The Liverpool boss said: “The time I have spent with Sadio Mane has been fantastic – I love the boy! He’s an outstanding player.
“I have made a few mistakes in my life and one of my biggest mistakes ever was not taking Sadio when I was at Dortmund.
“We were together in an office and I spoke to him. Afterwards I wasn’t sure but that was really my fault.
“He’s an outstanding boy and life gave me a second chance to work with him and hopefully we can both use it.”
Mane, who signed a new five-year deal with Liverpool in November, has scored 42 goals in 100 appearances for the Reds.
