Liverpool have unveiled the shirt number that Sadio Mane will wear at Anfield next season after completing the signing of the forward from Southampton.
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And they decided to have some fun with their fans along the way after leaked pictures of Mane in Liverpool training gear yesterday suggested that he would be No.29. But it seems that the Reds were playing us for fools, because they have now announced on their Twitter account that the 24-year-old will instead take on the No.19 jersey.
Sadio Mane’s number is, of course, t?w?e?n?t?y?-?n?i?n?e? 1?9?! pic.twitter.com/G2FvSUUp8z
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 28, 2016
Yesterday we wrote a piece about the less-than celebrated history of the No.29 shirt at Anfield, but the new Mane alternative puts just as little pressure on the Senegalese.
SEE MORE: Top seven Liverpool players to have worn No. 29: No pressure on Sadio Mane
It has been worn over the last two seasons by defensive loan flops Steven Caulker and Javi Manquillo, and before that by disappointing signings Ryan Babel and Stewart Downing.
Fernando Morientes is the biggest name to have been Liverpool’s No.19 in the Premier League era. Goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Pegguy Arphexad are other previous owners.
Reds fans will hope that Mane wears it with more distinction, especially considering that the transfer fee for the forward could rise to a club-record £36m, according to BBC Sport.
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