In a surprising turn of events, Sadio Mane has bid farewell to Bayern Munich, expressing his disappointment over his departure from the Bundesliga club after just one season.
The 31-year-old Senegalese forward is set to join Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr, where he will be joining forces with football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic.
Mane successfully completed his medical assessment in Dubai, paving the way for him to be officially unveiled as an Al-Nassr player within the next few hours.
As reported by Sky Sport Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the deal with Al-Nassr is set to run until 2027.
Following the announcement of his exit, Mane opened up about his feelings to Plettenberg, stating, “Leaving FC Bayern hurts me. I would have wished for a different ending. I know that I could have helped the team this season. I wanted to prove it to everyone this season. Nevertheless, I only wish the club and the fans the best for the future.”
During the previous season, Mane managed to score 12 goals and provide five assists across all competitions.
However, he garnered media attention when he was suspended by Bayern after reportedly getting into an altercation with teammate Leroy Sane following their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Champions League.
Having joined Bayern from Liverpool in the previous summer, Mane was unable to replicate his exceptional performance with the Reds in Germany.
His prospects suffered a further blow when a fibula injury ruled him out of the World Cup, leading to him losing his place in the starting XI.
Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel was critical of Mane, stating, “Basically, Sadio had an unsatisfactory season and fell short of expectations. The competitive situation is extremely high for him with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, we have a constellation which makes it very difficult for Sadio. The player knows that too, he knows my opinion and the opinion of the club.”
Mane’s tally of 12 goals for Bayern last season marked his lowest goal count since his time with Metz in Ligue 2 during the 2011/12 campaign.
This ultimately influenced his decision to move to the Saudi Pro League and join Al-Nassr for the upcoming season.