Sadio Mane has completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, ending his short-lived stint at Bayern Munich.
The 31-year-old Senegalese forward joined Bayern from Liverpool last summer for £35 million ($45 million) and had signed a contract until 2025. However, Mane’s time with Bayern did not meet expectations, as he scored only seven goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances and struggled with injuries.
Al Nassr, the club that Cristiano Ronaldo joined from Manchester United in December, has been active in the transfer market this summer, signing players like Marcelo Brozovic and Seko Fofana. Mane’s arrival at Al Nassr adds further firepower to their attacking options.
Mane’s departure from Bayern was a mutual decision between him and head coach Thomas Tuchel. Despite the disappointment of not meeting expectations, both parties maintain a good relationship and agreed that it was best for Mane to move on this summer.
Jurgen Klopp, Mane’s former manager at Liverpool, expressed surprise over the forward’s struggles at Bayern and speculated that a change in environment and expectations might have affected his form.
Al Nassr’s acquisition of Mane is part of a trend of Saudi Arabian clubs attracting European football stars after a significant investment from the country’s Public Investment Fund. The likes of Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, and N’Golo Kante have also made moves to the Gulf state.
Mane’s transfer will have financial implications for Liverpool, as the add-ons in his 2022 transfer from Liverpool to Bayern Munich will not be triggered due to his quick departure from the German club.
As Mane teams up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr, football fans will be curious to see how the dynamic duo performs together in the Saudi Pro League.
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