The Bayern Munich forward has already reached legendary levels of success both at the club and international level.
Sadio Mane has named Ronaldinho and El Hadji Diouf as his childhood idols.
The 30-year-old captained Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations trophy last winter. It came during his last season at Liverpool, where he won every possible trophy with the Reds.
Mane has become an instant fan favorite at Bayern, scoring in his first official match for the Bavarians.
A group of children climbed trees near Bayern’s camp earlier this week to get a glimpse of the club’s new superstar.
Speaking about the incident, Mane hoped to become a source of inspiration for the new generation.
“I was very happy. The fact that children climb trees especially for me motivates me immensely, of course,” he told Bayern’s official website.
“I want to do my best here every day in training and in matches – for the team and the fans.
“I still remember today that as a child, I admired great players and wanted to be like them. That’s why it’s very important to me to make children happy with my play. Children, they say, are also the most honest critics.”
Mane’s childhood idols
Mane was recently named a ‘Premier League great’ by Jurgen Klopp. The Senegalese star remembers when he looked up to his childhood heroes.
“My idols back then were Ronaldinho and El Hadji Diouf from Senegal,” he added.
“They were outstanding players. I watched videos of them for hours and tried to imitate everything they did.
“My mother gave me an El Hadji Diouf jersey, and when I was a bit older I bought one of Ronaldinho’s myself. I worked extra, earned money and saved up for it. It was a dream to wear his name on the back.
“I didn’t even want to take the jerseys off, I wore a different one every day.”
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