Bayern Munich made an official announcement on Saturday noting that discussions were underway regarding Senegalese striker Sadio Mane‘s potential transfer to another club. According to reports, it is speculated that he may be joining Saudi side Al Nassr.
The German champions left Mane out of a friendly match in Tokyo, posting on Twitter: ‘Sadio Mane is in contract negotiations about a change of club and is therefore not in the line-up today.’
Aged 31, the ex-Liverpool star is set to become the latest prominent player to enter the cash-rich Saudi league, following the trend of other notable names in football.
Both Bild and Kicker magazine’s reports suggest that he was on his way to Al Nassr for a medical check-up, which indicates conclusion of the transfer deal.
Mane’s arrival at the club would further solidify their reputation as a major player in the transfer market, having already secured the signature of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, which set off a wave of high-profile signings by Saudi clubs.
Mane enjoyed a highly successful tenure at Liverpool, securing both the Champions League and Premier League titles during his six seasons with the club.
He played a pivotal role as an integral part of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable front three, alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, which proved to be a devastating attacking force.
During the pandemic-disrupted 2019-2020 season, when Liverpool clinched their first English league title in 30 years, Mane displayed his scoring prowess by netting an impressive tally of 18 goals.
Read also: Transfer: Sadio Mane Nears Move To Al Nassr
In the summer of 2022, after clinching the African Player of the Year award, Mane made a pivotal decision to seek a new challenge. Speculations, though unconfirmed, circulated that he might have grown weary of sharing the spotlight with Egypt’s Salah at Anfield.
Bayern’s grand plan for Mane involved positioning him as the central figure in their offensive tactics, an enticing proposition considering the recent departure of Robert Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona.
Mane’s season began on a positive note at Bayern; however, it quickly became apparent that he was not adapting well to his new environment.
Mane’s season took an unexpected turn in November when he suffered a fibula injury during a Bundesliga encounter against Werder Bremen, causing him to halt his campaign.
Mane’s injury setback meant he was unable to represent Senegal in the World Cup held in Qatar at the end of last year, negatively impacting their chances.
Mane’s problems surfaced once again in 2023 when he rejoined the Bayern team, and a physical altercation with teammate Leroy Sane followed a Champions League defeat against Manchester City.
Bayern reportedly imposed a fine of about 350,000 euros ($385,000) on Mane and issued a one-match suspension in response to his involvement in the altercation with his teammate Leroy Sane.
Across all competitions, he concluded the season with a disappointing total of 12 goals in 38 games.
It has been reported that he intends to leave Bayern, even though he still has two years left on his contract.
In addition to the signing of Ronaldo, Al Nassr has been active in the transfer market, securing the services of Croatia midfielder Marcelo Brozovic, Brazil full-back Alex Telles, and Ivory Coast midfielder Seko Fofana.