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Roy Keane names former Liverpool ace as ‘one of the best lads’ he came across in football

Djibril Cissé joined Sunderland on loan from Marseille in 2008 while Roy Keane was the manager, having previously spent two seasons in the Premier League with Liverpool.

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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (Image: Getty Images)

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Football great Roy Keane complimented an a former Liverpool star, claiming he’s “one of the best lads I’ve ever come across”. Djibril Cissé, the former Reds striker, gets a big thumbs-up from the Manchester United legend.

Keane signed Cissé for Sunderland on loan from Marseille in 2008 where the Frenchman made himself known by scoring 10 league goals in 35 games, helping their squad stay up. Reflecting on signing Cissé amid concerns about the player’s attitude, Keane shared on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet: “Sometimes you don’t know a player until he walks into the building.

“I’ve made lots of phone calls and people will say, ‘He’s a good lad,’ or ‘I’m not sure.’ I remember when I tried to get Djibril Cissé and every one said to me that he wasn’t a great lad, but I took a chance, and he was one of the best lads I’ve ever come across.”

READ MORE: Liverpool squad can soon give itself boost as Jordan Henderson may change Saudi transfer reality

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as ‘priority’ emerges and Barcelona wants Jürgen Klopp to win race

“You honestly don’t know a player until he’s walked into the building.” Cissé has given credit back to Keane, telling FourFourTwo magazine in 2020 how Keane “got the best out of me” at the Stadium of Light.

“Oh, I love the guy,” Cissé said when asked about his time playing under Keane. “Marseille had spent some money on new players by then, so when my agent contacted me and said Roy Keane would like me to join Sunderland on loan, I considered it.

“I wasn’t getting enough match time at Marseille, so I thought: ‘Why not?’ Roy was brilliant. I was never nervous around him. We have a lot in common and both take football very seriously — I never forgot how important any club was.

“Roy was always very straight with me and got the best out of me. I remember one game: at half time we came in and I hadn’t played great; not that bad, but I hadn’t been myself. Roy walked in and went for me.

“Oh my god, he was screaming at me — really crazy, loud. It took me back 15 years when Guy Roux used to shout at me as a kid. I realized what Roy was doing. Like Guy, he was trying to get me going. So, I lifted my head up and smiled. I smiled, knowing what he was doing.

“Well, Roy just got even angrier. ‘What the f**k are you smiling for?!’ Anyway, after 10 minutes I scored and sprinted over to him on the touchline. ‘Well done, boss. I know exactly what you were doing!’ He looked at me like I was mad. But I did love the guy.”

Liverpool.com says: Cissé was something of a cult hero at Anfield, and it will always be a great source of frustration that we didn’t get to see more of him due to his horrific leg break while at Liverpool. He probably wouldn’t have set the world alight, but he was one of the better options during a lean spell for strikers at the club.

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John Henry on “personal mission” to sign “best player in the world” for Liverpool

John Henry on “personal mission” to sign “best player in the world” for Liverpool
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Liverpool’s principal owner John W. Henry is reportedly on a “personal mission” to bring Kylian Mbappe to Anfield as a report details the transfer of all transfers.

There isn’t a single club in the world that doesn’t want Mbappe.

The thing is, even some of the biggest around Europe have resigned themselves to financial impossibility of the task at hand.

Not Liverpool apparently.

Countless reports over the last week have piqued interest with claims that the player has a “genuine affection” for Liverpool due to his mother supporting the Reds. She’s also his agent so she holds a lot of sway in his career.

Now, a report from Spain suggests FSG owner John Henry is on a “personal mission” to make #Mbappe2024 a reality.

Owners want to sell Liverpool and Premier League fairytale to Kylian Mbappe

According to Mundo Deportivo. Liverpool want to take advantage of Kylian Mbappe’s contract with PSG expiring at the end of the season. Because he’s entered the final six months of his contract FIFA rules dictate he is free to enter discussions with interested clubs and can even sign a pre-contract agreement to commit his future to a new club.

FIFA regulations state: “A club intending to conclude a contract with a professional must inform the player’s current club in writing before entering into negotiations with him.

“A professional shall only be free to conclude a contract with another club if his contract with his present club has expired or is due to expire within six months. Any breach of this provision shall be subject to appropriate sanctions.”

This is what Real Madrid were alleged to have done before Mbappe issued a statement on the matter.

Mbappe believes he can achieve all his personal and team ambitions if he moves to Real Madrid. It’s probably true as well.

Yet, Liverpool continue to be a consideration of the Frenchman’s.

According to MD, Mbappe also realises that Vinicius Junior is playing as a striker for Carlo Ancelotti. Of course, the Brazilian has just six goals to the 25 Mbappe has scored this season but the PSG striker will expect to be the main man at centre-forward if he moves to Madrid.

At Liverpool, he would be the undisputed top dog especially if Mohamed Salah does not sign a new contract and indeed secures a move to the Saudi Pro League. Supposedly, it’s already a “done deal”, according to a claim from Football Insider, but other reports have suggested the Egyptian is open to new contract talks ahead of his current deal’s June 2025 expiry.

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MD reports that at Anfield, Mbappe “would be given the king’s throne” at Liverpool.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are reportedly at the forefront of Liverpool’s transfer charm offensive. The report states that the “owners of Liverpool are going to their best to turn Mbappe into an idiol and icon.”

They hope that the Reds’ history and European pedigree combined with the comparative strength and appeal between the Premier League and La Liga will be enough to sway Mbappe into choosing Liverpool over Real Madrid.

Mbappe can join Liverpool and then Madrid in five years’ time

As Mundo Deportivo say, Barcelona are also hopeful that Liverpool sign Mbappe over Madrid.

Given he is just 25, he can still live out his La Liga dreams when he’s 30+ and at the true peak of his powers.

While’s still at his physical best, it would do wonders for his overall legacy and brand to move to the Premier League where he can enjoy a fairytale chapter of his career managed by Jurgen Klopp in front of one of the most iconic fanbases in football

Verdict

Overall, this is still something of a fantasy.

Until Liverpool are actually able to sell the dream to Mbappe and agree on a contract, it doesn’t seem likely to happen.

Madrid remain favourites so for now we can just enjoy the fun of dreaming what it would be like if a transfer like this happened.

One way or another, this will be wrapped up by the end of the summer transfer window at the very latest.

Until anything is confirmed, expect constant stories playing up Liverpool’s chances of making this a reality.

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