Southampton man Moussa Djenepo believes he can become a better player than Liverpool star Sadio Mane, per talkSPORT.
The 21-year-old moved to England from Standard Liege last summer and has enjoyed a positive debut season in the Premier League.
Across 20 games, he has scored twice and also registered two assists, per Transfermarkt, but he is setting his sights even higher as he looks to nail down a spot in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s starting XI.
It is worth noting that Mane also began his Premier League career with the Saints, scoring 25 goals and registering 14 assists in 75 games before a big-money move to Liverpool, where he has become a key member of Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Djenepo, a Mali international, is aiming to surpass the 28-year-old, though, as he continues his development.
He said: “Sadio is a big inspiration for me. I like him, he’s a very big player.
“But I think I can be better [than him] if I work hard. Sadio is a very big player, and I’m young and I need to learn more.
“In the future we will see. I will do my best to become the next Sadio Mane.”
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
This is exactly the kind of attitude that young players need.
Djenepo has only just come to England and he has shown glimpses of the quality he possesses; he has scorching pace and also an exceptional technical ability, holding the attributes needed to send a defender one way before skipping past his challenge.
That he is setting his sights on surpassing one of the best forward players in Europe may draw a few guffaws from rival fans but there is no point in playing if you don’t plan on being the absolute best.
That Djenepo has his eyes on the prize is something to be praised, not mocked.