Sadio Mane has given a searingly honest interview about fleeing home to follow his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

The world-class Liverpool attacker spoke about his parents forbidding him to drop out of his studies to play the game before he ran away and turned up to his first trials in boots he repaired himself with wire.

The Senegal captain , who is currently playing in the African Cup of Nations with his compatriots, spoke to France Football about his escape and the time he turned up to trials being "laughed at".

"I prepared everything down to the minute, knowing that I did not have any money at all," Mane said.

"At sunset, I hid in the tall grass, in front of my house, my sports bag with my things so that I wasn’t surprised when leaving.

"And early the following morning, at around 6am, I brushed my teeth and didn’t even take a shower.

"I left without telling anyone, apart from my best friend.

Show Player

"I walked for a long time to meet up with a friend who loaned me some money so that I could take the bus to Dakar.

"There, I was welcomed by a family who I did not know.

"I immediately took part in training sessions at recognised teams.

"But my parents were looking for me everywhere. They were convinced that my best friend knew where I was.

"He held on, he did not say anything. But my family and his, they put terrible pressure on him, and he eventually gave me up.

"My parents then called me to demand that I return home.

"I did not want to because I was ashamed to come back but I ended up agreeing on the condition that they would let me try my luck (at football) once the school year was over."

Mane then spoke about his first football trials, which "started badly" for him.

In Pictures: Liverpool train in Marbella

"There were 200 or 300 youngsters who were waiting in line for their chance," he added.

"It started badly for me because when I presented myself, I was laughed at. I did not look like a footballer.

"I was wearing pants that looked nothing like football shorts. And my football boots were completely shredded on the sides and had been repaired by me with wire the best I could.

"Those who oversaw the trials would look at me with a bizarre facial expression: 'You really want to become a footballer?'

Show more

"I understood them but I did not have a choice. As I was not that bad, they took me.

"That was the beginning of my adventure."