Ryan Gravenberch has revealed that Sadio Mane persuaded him to join Liverpool from Bayern Munich. The Netherlands international joined the Bavarians from Ajax the same summer as the Senegalese after he called time on his Anfield career in 2022.

Both players would ultimately only spend one season in Germany, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga title but finding their opportunities limited.

The pair made 19 appearances together during their time in Munich. Yet Gravenberch would start only six of his 34 appearances for Bayern before moving to Liverpool in a deal worth up to £40m on transfer deadline day in the summer of 2023.

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Meanwhile, Mane made 38 appearances, returning 12 goals and six assists, but found himself deemed surplus to requirements after Thomas Tuchel took over as manager. The forward went on to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in a £24m deal.

Gravenberch has now opened up on his struggles in Munich, and revealed the role Mane played in his eventual switch to Liverpool.

“Sadio is a really nice guy, a really nice guy,” he told LFC TV in the latest episode of their ‘A Day With’ series. “When I was in Munich, I asked him also about Liverpool.

“If it was a good step for me, how the club was and everything. He said a lot of good things so in my head I was like, ‘I have to go, I have to go!’

“I was born and grew up in Amsterdam so I knew everything. I knew everybody. I went to a different country, a different city where I didn’t know anybody or anything.

“It was difficult but it was also nice to go out of my comfort zone. Ajax is a really big club but I think if you want to reach the top, top, you have to go to England, Spain or Germany to reach your full potential.

“I didn’t play a lot at that time (at Bayern Munich). I came from Ajax where I played everything. I was at the top of the group and then went to such a big club like Bayern Munich and saw other players who are really good and really big.

“You want to also play there but I didn’t play a lot. It was a bit difficult but I had my parents, I had a lot of conversations with them and they kept me calm.

“(I learned to) always be ready. If you don’t play a lot, when you then have to come in, it’s really difficult because I didn’t for like four or five games and then I’d come in for 20 minutes. I’d have to then show myself but hadn’t played for a long time.”

Gravenberch also opened up on his first meeting with his now former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, revealing how the German challenged him as the midfielder looked to put his Bayern struggles behind him.

“My only focus was, ‘I have to show the Ryan Gravenberch again’.” he said. “I spoke at the time with Klopp, the gaffer, and he told me my chances would come for sure.

“‘You will get your minutes, you will get your chances. But then you have to show me if you are ready for it’. That was always in the back of my head.

“This year I didn’t play a lot and I didn’t want to have another year like this. I knew I had to show myself.

“Sometimes you have to adapt to new club, new country, everything is new. Now I feel comfortable. I want to win titles with Liverpool. For sure the Premier League! I think that’s the thing we have to achieve this season.”