EPL: I told Man City to sign him – Yaya Toure regrets not playing with Sadio Mane

Ivory Coast legend, Yaya Toure has said he asked Manchester City to sign ex-Liverpool star Sadio Mane from Southampton.

The 31-year-old Mane enjoyed a successful two-year stint at Southampton, scoring 25 goals and providing 14 assists in 75 games for the Saints.

The Senegal international later secured a £34 million transfer to Liverpool in the summer of 2016.

He then helped Liverpool to six trophies including the Champions League and Premier League before departing last summer.

The 2022 Africa Cup of Nations winner scored 120 goals and provided 48 assists in 269 appearances.

Speaking on Match of the Day Africa Top 10, Toure said he wanted to play with the former Liverpool man at Manchester City.

“I always wanted to play with him. When I was at City, at the time when he was at Southampton, I highly regarded him, and I was asking some of my superiors to sign him.

“But in the end, it just didn’t happen. After that, Klopp had the eyes to get him, and now look what he did for Liverpool. He was brilliant. I like him.”