Al-Nassr set to sign Bayern’s Sadio Mane

On Saturday, Bayern Munich made an announcement stating that Senegalese striker Sadio Mane was engaged in discussions “regarding a club switch,” with reports indicating that he might be headed to the Saudi club Al Nassr.

The German champions left Mane out of a friendly match in Tokyo, posting on social media: “Sadio Mane is in contract negotiations about a change of club and is therefore not in the line-up today.”

The 31-year-old ex-Liverpool star is anticipated to be the newest high-profile player to join the financially lucrative Saudi league.

While Bild and Kicker magazine reported that Mane was heading for a medical with Al Nassr, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel chose not to comment on the player’s future.

“We are still in the transfer window and I would like to see what’s going on and wait and see how things will happen,” he told reporters after Bayern’s 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

Mane’s potential signing would be another significant addition for the club, which already made a splash by securing Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. During his six seasons with Liverpool, Mane achieved success by winning the Champions League and Premier League, forming a crucial part of Jurgen Klopp’s formidable front three alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

In the 2019-2020 season, amid the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Mane played a vital role in helping Liverpool win their first English league title in 30 years, scoring 18 goals.

However, in the summer of 2022, after being named the African Player of the Year, Mane expressed a desire for a fresh challenge, and there were unconfirmed rumors suggesting that he grew weary of sharing the limelight with Egypt’s Salah at Anfield.

Bayern Munich made a significant effort to attract Mane by offering him a central role in their attack, especially after losing Robert Lewandowski, who moved to Barcelona. However, despite a promising beginning at Bayern, it became evident that Mane was not finding his rhythm in the team.

Unfortunately, in a Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen in November, Mane sustained a fibula injury, leading to a halt in his season.

This injury was particularly devastating as it prevented him from participating in the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the previous year, dealing a severe blow to Senegal’s prospects.