Sadio Mane has heaped praise on new Liverpool team-mate Ibrahima Konate for how well he’s settled into training.
Liverpool snapped up the 22-year-old at the start of the transfer window in a £36m switch from RB Leipzig.
With Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all back from injury this season, Konate may have to wait a while to make his debut.
But according to Mane, he’s definitely leaving a good impression on his team-mates with his attitude taking the Senegalese by surprise.
‘He is a very nice lad and from the first day he was with us I was really surprised because it was like he has been here for years,’ Mane told the club’s website.
‘With myself that was not the case because I am a bit shy, but he just came in and settled straightaway which is really important.
‘You could see in pre-season that he was doing well from the start and we are really, really happy to have him. I feel that this year he will have a great season for Liverpool.’
Liverpool fell short last season in their quest to defend their maiden Premier League title with many putting the absence of Van Dijk down to their struggles.
The Reds have kept two clean sheets and conceded just one goal in their opening three matches of the new campaign though, and Mane admits it’s a huge positive to have the Dutchman back in the starting XI.
‘Having one of the best defenders in the world back on your team, you don’t need to describe it – it’s amazing,’ Mane said.
‘Last year was obviously a tough time for him but now he’s always smiling! And, of course, we are all happy for him.
‘He is a very professional athlete who looks after his body all the time and I wasn’t surprised to see him straight back into his old form. We have seen him play a few games now and, for me, we have seen him at that level already.
‘Obviously it was a big blow for us missing not only Virgil but also Joel [Matip] and Joe Gomez last year. If you have these kind of players in your team and you’re missing them, then for sure you will feel it. I think any club in this world would feel the same.
‘Now we are really happy to have them back and it’s been a good start to the season with these names on the backs of the shirts behind me!
‘But we should also remember that the young lads like Nat [Phillips] and Rhys [Williams] who came in to deputise for these players last season did a great job too.’
Liverpool return to action after the international break with a trip to Leeds on Sunday, September 12.
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