Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr have completed the signing of forward Sadio Mane from Bayern Munich, the club has announced.
ESPN reported earlier this month that Bayern were in talks with the Riyadh-based club and now that an agreement has been reached, Mané will join Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the 2023/24 season opener on August 14.
The 31-year-old joined Bayern from Liverpool last summer but endured a difficult year in Bavaria that saw him suspended by the club following allegations of a fight with team-mate Leroy Sané following Bayern’s loss to Manchester City.
Mané won six trophies during his time at Anfield, including the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League.
The Senegal international formed a famous trio with his Liverpool team-mates Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Firmino will also play in the Saudi Pro League next summer after joining Al Ahli on July 4.
Mane joins a growing list of star players who have left European clubs to sign for the Saudi side.
Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté both joined Al Ittihad while Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy joined Al Ahli.
Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel said on Tuesday he hugged Sadio Mané and was saddened that the Senegalese forward failed to reach his full potential in Germany before moving to Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr.
After Tuchel took office in March, he was regularly on the bench.
“It was a bit sad. We hugged for a long time but we both smiled and we convinced ourselves to maintain good relations. It’s nothing personal on his part,” Tuchel said in Singapore during Bayern’s pre-season tour as quoted by ESPN.
“I can totally understand that he feels hurt. I also feel unhappy when things like this happen. We didn’t make the most of it, which is my job too and my responsibility. So it’s always a sad moment but in situations this particular is the best solution for untying.”
Sky Sport reported on Monday that Mane said it was painful to leave Bayern and he believes he is still of use to the team.
Tuchel said he was surprised by the “gold rush” led by Saudi clubs over the past year and compared it to similar lavish spending in the Chinese league in the 2010s, something which has since died down.
“We have the next league that is trying to become more popular, more famous, that is trying to build a brand, and they are convincing a lot of players, a lot of quality players and even a coach,” said Tuchel.
“So it’s a completely new situation and it’s too early for me to have a clear opinion. I’m an observer, a surprised observer,” he concluded.
