OFFICIAL: Mane completes move to Bayern Munich

Sadio Mane leaves Liverpool after six memorable years at the club. The 30 year-old has completed a move to Bayern Munich on a three year deal in what will be his first taste of German football. Bayern announced the news at 13:15 CEST on Wednesday. 

Mane, who joined Liverpool in 2016 from Southampton, made it clear in the summer that he was leaving Liverpool and now that is the case. Darwin Nunez's move to Liverpool last week practically assured that the Senegalese would be departing. If there were any further doubts, on Tuesday afternoon, there were none. Mane was spotted in Munich having his medical and he even posed with a Bayern shirt. The Senegalese joins the German giants on a three year deal and the move will reportedly cost Bayern 41 million euros including add ons. 

Mane leaves Liverpool having scored 120 goals and provided 38 assists in 269 appearances during his six seasons at the club. At the Reds, he won the Premier League. Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. He also won the African Cup of Nations with Senegal in February after beating Egypt on penalties while Mane could have had three Champions Leagues had Liverpool not lost in the final to Real Madrid twice.

The striker cannot wait to get started and explained his reasons for joining the German giants: "I'm really happy to finally be at FC Bayern in Munich. We spoke a lot and I felt big interest from this great club right from the beginning, so for me there were no doubts. It's the right time for this challenge. I want to achieve a lot with this club, in Europe too. During my time in Salzburg I watched a lot of Bayern games - I really like this club!," Mane said. 

The Bayern board also reacted to the news: "Sadio Mané is a global star, who underlines the appeal of FC Bayern and will increase the attractiveness of the Bundesliga as a whole. Fans come to the stadiums to see such players. It's great that our board led by Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidžić have managed to sign a player like Sadio Mané for FC Bayern," Bayern president Herbert Hainer told the club's website.

This signing could allow Robert Lewandowski to move away from the club. Despite Bayern insisting that the Pole will see out the final year of his contract, Lewandowski is confident the club will let him go. In fact, the striker has told the club he only wants Bayern to listen to offers from Barcelona and, if they pay the 50 million euros Bayern want, the 33 year-old will be able to sign for the Spanish giants. 

After eight years in England, Mane will try his luck in Germany and his first competitive appearance could come away to Leipzig on 30th July in the German Super Cup. For his first league appearance, we will have to wait until 5th August when Bayern travel to play Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt. 

 

June 22, 2022