The agent of former Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane claimed the German giants of wanting to get rid of his client because he’s African and was their top earner.
Mane recently became the latest in a long list of stars to move to Saudi Arabia, completing a £34million move to Al Nassr.
It comes just a year after he left Liverpool to join Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich where he failed to live up to expectations, scoring just 12 goals.
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When he moved to Germany Mane was reportedly given a salary of more than £300,000 per week making him one of the club's highest earners.
He initially made a great start to the season, but an injury just before the World Cup in Qatar proved to be a turning point.
Since his departure, Mane’s PR manager has claimed that people at Bayern weren’t fair to him and that he wasn’t sold for footballing reasons.
Speaking to After Foot RMC, as per The Mail, Bacary Cisse alleged: “Sadio's salary bothered the Germans.
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“They didn't understand how an African joins the club and becomes the top earner ahead of everyone, so they wanted to get rid of him.”
Bayern have vehemently denied the claims however.
In response to Cisse's interview, the Bavarian club said in a statement: “We have terminated our contract with Sadio Mane by mutual agreement. Accusations of racism, as formulated by Sadio's entourage, are and have been baseless from the start. Our coach Thomas Tuchel never told Sadio he couldn't use him anymore.
"FC Bayern appreciated Sadio Mané as a man and as a player. Unfortunately, our common objectives, which we had set ourselves before his signature, have not been achieved.
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"We wish Sadio all the best and success at his new club.”
A sad ending for a great player
It’s a sad ending for a player who not long ago was scoring winning goals in the latter stages of the Champions League and helping Liverpool challenge on all fronts.
Given the fact he’s 31 and is now playing outside of Europe’s top five leagues, in a country where the standard of football is not great, it’s unlikely we will see him anywhere near his best again.
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At Al Nassr, Mane will be paid approximately £650,000 which is more than double his wage at Bayern.
He will still be regarded as one of the greatest African footballers of all time, but it’s a pity his career at the top level has ended this way.
Topics: Football, Sadio Mane, Bayern Munich, Al Nassr
Will Evans