'I rejected Jurgen Klopp after Pep Guardiola convinced me I could be the next Lionel Messi'

Pep Guardiola has urged Leroy Sané to emulate Lionel Messi's style of play after the German star rejected Liverpool in favor of a move to Manchester City. The former Schalke winger, highly sought after for his remarkable talent as a youngster, opted to join Guardiola at City in 2016 with a transfer fee of £37 million.

Sane, who is now showcasing his skills at Bayern Munich, played a pivotal role in City's historic title campaign for the 'Centurions' in 2017/18. In a revelation made in 2018, Sane admitted he had the opportunity to be part of Jurgen Klopp's revolution at Liverpool, but opted for the Etihad Stadium instead.

Speaking to the Guardian, Sane revealed: “Yes, I was speaking with them too. Jurgen was also calling me, talking to me. That was before I joined City.”

He praised Klopp's work and character, saying: “He did a good job at [Borussia] Dortmund – I met him when he was there. He’s a good guy, a nice guy – honest. He [has] I worked well with Liverpool.”

Although Klopp missed out on Sane's signing, it only fueled the intense rivalry between Liverpool and City, which has become one of the most electrifying contests in Premier League history. Despite initial challenges, Sané quickly adapted to life in Manchester, becoming a formidable force against Premier League defenses with his lightning speed and skillful dribbling.

Leroy Sané has spoken candidly about his apprenticeship under Pep Guardiola, revealing one particular piece of advice that had a profound impact on him. In an effort to unlock Sané's potential, Guardiola urged him to emulate the playing style – not the unrivaled skill – of Lionel Messi.

Sane said: “I needed a bit of time to settle in, to get to know the Premier League, the people here, what they are like and get to know the players. I needed to get my confidence back. Pep gave me said to play with freedom like [Lionel] Messi, not like Messi, it's impossible.”

“Be free like Messi, have fun, do things the way he wants from a striker like the end of space [near goal] – take the opportunity to shoot or give an assist.

This push towards creative freedom propelled Sane to great success at Manchester City for three seasons, earning him numerous assists, goals and silverware.

Despite swapping England for Germany when he joined Bayern Munich in 2020, it appears Sané is yet to replicate the scintillating performance levels he once displayed under Guardiola's tutelage, often playing off the bench this current season under the management of Vincent Kompany, his ex. -City colleague.

The winger is once again linked with Liverpool and City, with his contract set to expire next summer. Manchester United have also shown interest in him.