Football
Ed Dove, Special to ESPN 5y

Sadio Mane could play for Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United - Le Roy

Sadio Mane shouldn't be criticised for failing to replicate his Liverpool form with Senegal, and is good enough to play for any of the world's biggest clubs, according to Togo head coach Claude Le Roy.

The 26-year-old forward has enjoyed an encouraging start to the Premier League season, having netted four goals in eight outings for Liverpool so far.

Mane is only one goal away from becoming the seventh African player to reach a half century of goals in the top flight, although he's being made to wait for his 50th Premier League strike, having now gone nine games in all competitions without netting for club or country.

"He's a great player," legendary coach Le Roy told Stades [as per Star Africa], "and he'd have his place at Manchester United, at Barcelona, or at Real Madrid.

"It would be a really good thing if I could have him with the [Togo national team]," the Frenchman joked.

Despite his fine club form, Mane has struggled to replicate his club form at international level, and is yet to net in Senegal's four-game Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

He found the net against Japan during the Teranga Lions' World Cup campaign, but scored just once for Senegal during the entire qualifying campaign for the global showpiece in Russia.

"Sadio is an excellent player and I tell you that all of Africa watches him play in the Premier League at the weekend as well as the Champions League," Le Roy continued.

"However, a club is different to a national team," he added. "We often criticise players for not shining so much with the national team, but at the clubs, players know each other.

"All the time, the players see each other training together, whereas in the national team, they only see each other periodically."

Mane scored 23 goals across his first two seasons with Liverpool, contributing 12 assists in the top flight. He also scored 10 goals and contributed one assist during the Reds' run to the Champions League final last term.

The attacker became Liverpool's the latest injury concern when he broke a bone in his hand during the recent international break.

Senegal secured their place at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, and will take their place among the continent's top sides in Cameroon next year as they go in search of their first continental crown.

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