LiverpoolFCMagazineMay2020

MANE & KEITA

NABY: Don’t forget the passes that I made to you – don’t forget
those!

THE SETTLING-IN PERIOD IS IMPORTANT ISN’T IT, AND DID
SADIO HELP TOO? WHAT IS HE LIKE – A BIG BROTHER?
NABY: Yes of course, it’s always useful to have somebody to
help you on arriving at a team that you don’t know, But I felt
though I was at home with this team, it’s like a big family. Now I
feel as if I’ve been here five years or so. At the beginning I didn’t
speak English very well but now I get by.
SADIO: Yes, now you can speak English [smirks].
NABY: No, no!
SADIO: I will tell you a little anecdote. So, you speak English,
Naby? Well a few weeks ago he was in preparation for a match,
having his breakfast and one of the backroom staff guys said –
and remember that Naby speaks English – “Of course you are
just recovering from an injury, so we’re going to try and do a
run round the field.”
But it was obviously in a Scouse accent, “We’re going to go
round the field and afterwards we’ll have specific treatment.”
And Naby said: “Yeah, yeah, I like eggs. I like eggs, yes. I like
omelettes.”
NABY: It’s a lie! It’s a lie!

SADIO: He was having his breakfast and he said: “You’re ready to

go and do a circuit” and he said: “Yes, yes, I like my omelettes.”

So, I said do you understand English, Naby and he said: “Yes, I

like my eggs.” It’s true!

DOES IT GIVE YOU A BIT OF PLEASURE OF BEING THE ‘OLDER

BROTHER’ IN A WAY AND DID YOU HAVE SOMEBODY HERE

FOR YOU LIKE THAT WHEN YOU SIGNED FOR LIVERPOOL?

SADIO: I think that where I was lucky was that I spoke a little

bit of English before, and also I knew the coach before arriving

here. There were players like Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho

and Simon Mignolet who spoke French with me, so it wasn’t a

problem. As Naby says, it’s a team which is really like a family so

that went very well for me.

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT AFRICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR?

NABY: Me, it will be me!

SADIO: Naby, what have I told you? I have told you that

Mohamed Salah has won it twice, one after the other. I was

there, I saw it! Me next. But now you are 25 years old so you’ve

got time to be the player of the year. Then when you’re old

enough I’ll let you have it!

NABY: I disagree with you – next season it’s me!