Pep Guardiola Beats Jurgen Klopp to Leroy Sane’s Signature in 2016
Pep Guardiola successfully convinced Leroy Sane to join Manchester City over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in 2016, propelling the German winger into Premier League stardom. Guardiola even pushed Sane to aim for the level of “freedom” seen in Lionel Messi‘s game.
Sane’s Rise to Prominence
Sane was among Europe’s hottest young talents during his time at Schalke, earning him a £37 million move to Manchester City. As one of Guardiola’s first signings in England, Sane quickly became integral to the team’s success, particularly their historic ‘Centurions’ title-winning campaign in the 2017/18 season.
However, Sane revealed in a 2018 interview that his career could have gone in a different direction. “Yes, I was also talking with [Liverpool]. Jurgen was calling me too, talking to me. That was before I joined City,” Sane told The Guardian. He praised Klopp, saying, “He’s a good guy, honest. He worked well with Liverpool.”
Ultimately, Guardiola’s vision won out. Sane’s electric pace and dribbling skills became a nightmare for Premier League defences, and his crucial goal against Liverpool in January 2019 proved decisive in City’s title race that season.
Guardiola’s Messi Comparison
In a pivotal discussion, Guardiola encouraged Sane to emulate Lionel Messi—not necessarily his ability but his creative freedom on the pitch. Sane shared:
“Pep told me to play with freedom like Messi, not like Messi—it’s impossible. Be free like Messi, have fun, do things he wants from a striker near the goal: shoot or give an assist.“
This guidance helped Sane thrive, amassing 39 goals and 43 assists in 135 appearances for City, despite missing a season due to an ACL injury. His contributions earned him two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and three League Cups before leaving for Bayern Munich in 2020.
Life After City
Since joining Bayern, Sane has achieved further success, winning three Bundesliga titles and making 187 appearances. However, many argue that he hasn’t quite reached the same heights he did under Guardiola. Recently, Sane has been used primarily as a substitute under manager Vincent Kompany, his former City teammate.
Future Speculation
With his contract set to expire next summer, Sane is now linked with a return to the Premier League. Both Liverpool and Manchester City have shown interest, alongside reports of interest from Manchester United.
Guardiola’s faith in Sane not only reshaped his career but also added another layer to City and Liverpool’s rivalry during a defining era of English football.
