Trevor Sinclair claims Jurgen Klopp 'lost' Sadio Mane when he 'belittled' the African Cup of Nations earlier this year.
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse hit out at Klopp ahead of AFCON 2021 following the Liverpool boss' disparaging comments.
Mane, who was unavailable for Liverpool at the start of the year as he represented his nation, went onto win the tournament.
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And Sinclair reckons Klopp had a part to play in the superstar forward's Liverpool exit following his AFCON claim.
He feels Mane couldn't continue at Liverpool after Klopp took aim at the mid-season competition.
"I think the main thing is that Jurgen Klopp lost him when he came out and belittled the AFCON tournament which his manager (for Senegal) Aliou Cisse had to come out and defend the AFCON and said 'you were coming second until our African players started playing for you'," he told talkSPORT.
The former Manchester City player continued by highlighting Mane's charitable gestures in his home country.
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He added: "Mane is a man of principles, you’ve seen him buy hospitals, buy schools and all the rest of it in his home town of Senegal and it’s for these reasons I feel Sadio Mane’s thought, you know what, I’m going, I’m leaving the club.
"He’s had a good time, he’s been a club legend but I don’t think he could play on after that."
Mane's move to Bayern Munich was made official this week. He joins the Bundesliga club in a transfer worth £35.1 million.
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It brings to an end a prolific and trophy-laden six-year spell at Anfield, having scored 120 goals for the club and notably winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
He'll go down as club legend as he embarks on a new chapter in his legendary career.
Topics: Sadio Mane, Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool, Football
Nasir Jabbar