"To be honest": Sadio Mane rejects Mo Salah suggestion after winning CAF POTY again

Former Liverpool player Sadio Mane has rejected any idea that there is a rivalry between himself and Mohamed Salah.

This comes off the back of the CAF awards last night which saw Mane retain his African Player of the Year Award ahead of Salah.

Mane won the award ahead of Salah and his Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy - collecting the award for the second year in a row. Although the last awards were held in 2019 pre-pandemic.

Now at Bayern Munich, Mane dismissed any claims that there was a rivalry between himself and his former teammate Salah.

Mane on the Salah rivalry

Hoping to clear the air, the Senegalese international distanced himself from any potential feud with Salah by claiming the pair are on good terms and have always been.

"People sometimes say there's a rivalry between me and [Salah], but you know I don't see myself having a rivalry with any player to be honest," Mane told GOAL.

"We have good relations, we text each other. I think the media always try to [aggravate] things."

The 30-year-old added: "You know I don't just have [relationships] with one player, but with every player I've played with in the world. You can ask whoever you want in the club, or wherever I go. I have good relationships with all players."

Mane's achievements in 2021/22

Mane enjoyed a stellar - perhaps the best of his career, given the achievements for club and country. He became Senegal's top scorer of all time and etched his name into African greatness.

The 30-year-old secured a double victory for Senegal by winning the African Cup of Nations and qualifying for the Qatar World Cup in November - scoring the winning penalty on both occasions.

This was perhaps the biggest factor in winning the African Player of the Year award ahead of Salah, who's Egypt side was beaten on both occasions by Senegal.

At club level, he helped Liverpool win the Carabao and FA Cups whilst also reaching the Champions League final and losing out to Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season.

He even flourished in a new role for the Reds, playing as a false nine/central forward - which saw him become Liverpool's main man for the second half of the season.

With great memories in England, the forward has a chance to add more silverware to legacy in Germany as he looks set to spearhead Munich following the sale of Robert Lewandowski.