I would go as far to say it is the most reflective and as sad as I have been about seeing a player leave since Fowler back in 2002 when I was basically a fanboy. I thought now at nearly 40 I was bulletproof from this sort of thing. Players come and go and have done over the years, that is football. I wasn’t happy with Owen and was never a fan like that anyway, I was livid with Torres, with Suarez I could see it had to happen and as good as he was he had come with baggage that was inexcusable at times. Carra and Gerrard were different as they were at the end of their playing days and didn’t have the choice. With Sadio I don’t feel annoyed or any of that as there is no reason to, it still hurts though. You don’t really have a favourite player when you get to my age but Mane was basically that. I started having major doubts about him staying with us ever since the signing of the excellent Luis Diaz but I hoped it would all be sorted. In reality, the writing was on the wall.
I feel like I have always had his back, I would also say that I have been honest about his poor form on the rare occasions. I supported Senegal in the World Cup in 2018 and when we were told we could wear shirts to work I was at the front of the queue in my Senegalese one. Up the Lions of Teranga. I was desperate for him to win the AFCON as I knew how much it meant to him and his country. There seems to have been an awful lot of pressure for him to deliver and now he can relax and enjoy it all on that side of things. Sadio has been such a big, big player for us since his arrival in 2016, during a time where we have won the lot and he has undoubtedly been vital to that and for large parts he has been the main man, up there with any of our top boys. There have been many a trip back from Anfield with me gushing at just how good he was.
It’s the player and the man that I have always been a fan of. What he has done for his village is exceptional and it says a lot about the person involved. The word humble gets thrown about far too much in life these days but with Sadio it is true. There are countless stories of his generosity and he is unselfish both on and off the pitch. A team player and one of life’s good guys.
The best moments? There were so many from him weren’t there? The debut goal against Arsenal, the winner in his first Merseyside Derby in stoppage time in the same season. Then there was the opener against Bayern in 18/19 and winning the penalty to set us on our way to number six a few months later. In 19/20 I thought he was as good as anyone on the planet. COVID seemed to come with a dip in form but last season he was somewhere near again and any of his goals against City will live in the memory for an eternity, especially the two in the cup semi-final. I think the goal against Bayern clinches it though. The pass from Virg was pinpoint, and the control, turn and dink from Mane was absolute class. It seems ironic that he will now be producing these delightful moments for the team from Bavaria.
Like with any transfer there is the odd fan that thought maybe it was time to move on. However, the one thing that everyone unanimously agrees on is that he has been an unbelievable player for us over these six years and has always given everything out there on the pitch for us. The latter sounds like it should be a given but as we have seen at other clubs recently that is not always the case. All that is left to say is that I wish him all the best at Bayern and beyond. I am sure he will tear it up in Germany. I will miss you big time though Sadio.
It is also very sad to see Divock Origi leaving. This is certainly a good move for him though and one where he will see more game time. My, oh my, we will be talking about Divock for years to come having said that. I was excited when we signed him back in 2014 from Lille, he came with the reputation as one of the brightest talents in Europe and he didn’t disappoint. It has been said a million times before but the number of crucial goals he has scored for us beggars belief. I will be telling my son for years to come about the goals against Dortmund, Everton, Barca and the Champions League final, to name but a few. I will also never forget when after scoring at Villa Park on Valentines Day in 2016 he went to celebrate with our away fans and got more than a heavy petting off one of our lads! It should be noted that Divock never moaned about his game time publicly and kept his head down and just cracked on with it. Another true legend. As the saying goes, football without Origi is nothing. It is fair to say I will also be looking out for AC Milan’s results, like Bayern and hope these boys win and score unless they play against us of course. UTFR.
Al Davies.
The Gubbage and the Glory! 