Ferdinand shocked as Mane uncovers what actually happened between him and Salah.

Sadio Mane has opened up more than ever about his relationship with Mo Salah, revisiting the famous 2019 Burnley incident that sparked headlines.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents, the former Liverpool winger was asked if he ever felt a real rivalry with Salah. Mane admitted people often assume that, but stressed that their competitiveness was never negative.

He called Salah a “great player” and explained that in matches, attackers can make instinctive decisions that sometimes look selfish. This echoed Salah’s own comments earlier this year, when he noted he actually provided Mane with the most assists, showing the supposed “feud” was exaggerated.

Mane described himself as “quiet” and “friendly”, adding that forwards naturally focus on scoring. He said Salah passed to him sometimes and sometimes didn’t, noting jokingly that Roberto Firmino was usually the one who shared the ball most.

There was no criticism toward Salah—Mane made it clear he still respects Liverpool’s No.11 deeply, as well as the club where he became a global star. Ryan Gravenberch even revealed that Mane spoke highly of Liverpool’s standards when encouraging him to join.

Mane revisited the Burnley incident, admitting he was “really, really angry” at the time because he felt Salah should have passed. But Salah later approached him to explain he didn’t see him, which actually brought them closer.

Together, Mane and Salah scored 30 goals as a duo, formed part of one of Liverpool’s greatest ever front lines, and helped deliver the trophies that defined the Klopp era.

In the end, Mane’s words show the mutual respect between the two and clear up the misconceptions about their relationship.