Bayern star Sane reveals he turned down Liverpool to join Man City

Leroy Sane, one of Bayern Munich's current stars, has lifted the lid on a pivotal moment in his career, admitting he turned down Liverpool in 2016 to join Manchester City. The German winger revealed that Pep Guardiola's vision for his development played a decisive role in his decision to move to the Etihad.
According to Sane, Guardiola planned to mould him into a player capable of thriving in a dynamic attacking role, reminiscent of Lionel Messi's contributions at Barcelona. This ambition, coupled with the Spaniard's renowned ability to nurture young talent, made Manchester City a more appealing destination than Liverpool at the time.
"Yes, I was also talking with them. Jurgen was calling me too, talking to me. That was before I joined City. He did a good job at [Borussia] Dortmund – I met him when he was there. He's a good guy, nice guy – honest. He [has] worked well with Liverpool," Sane told The Guardian.
"I needed a little time to settle, to know the Premier League, the people here, how they are and to know the players. I had to find my confidence. Pep told me to play with freedom like [Lionel] Messi, not like Messi – it's impossible.
"Be free like Messi, have fun, do things like he wants from a striker like the end of the space [near goal] – take the option to shoot or give an assist," he added.
For the Reds, it marked a missed opportunity in their rebuilding phase under Jurgen Klopp. The Anfield outfit had targeted the German to bolster their attack but ultimately turned to other options, signing Sadio Mane that same summer, a decision that shaped the club's future success.