Sadio Mane Set to Join Saudi Pro League, Klopp and Tuchel Weigh In
Sadio Mane is set to become the latest high-profile name to join the Saudi Pro League, and both Jurgen Klopp and his Borussia Dortmund predecessor Thomas Tuchel have had their say on the move.
Mane Leaves Liverpool for Bayern Munich
Mane left Liverpool for Bayern Munich last summer for £35 million, but the move has not worked out as he would have hoped. The Senegalese forward registered seven goals and five assists in the Bundesliga last season, and a leg injury which kept him out of action between November and February also saw him miss the World Cup.
He is now on the verge of putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with Al-Nassr, with Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel admitting that the striker rightly feels “hurt” by the way things have panned out in Germany.
Mane’s Liverpool Exit Came After Champions League Final Defeat
News of Mane’s Liverpool exit came shortly after defeat in the Champions League final in Paris, the end of a season in which the forward had fired the Reds to the brink of a quadruple with 23 goals in all competitions.
Klopp Cites “Luck” as Potential Reason for Shortcomings
Klopp was also asked for his thoughts on the failed switch to the Bundesliga champions, citing “luck” as a potential reason for any shortcomings. He said: “I don’t know what went wrong, to be honest. I think Sadio left us on a high, in really good shape, world-class player, no shadow of a doubt. To fulfil your full potential I think everything has to fall in place pretty much. A bit of luck is helpful as well, and that was obviously not the case. A bad injury in a horrible moment, the World Cup was gone. So we all knew that would have an influence, because Sadio is a very proud man, and that he couldn’t lead his country to the World Cup was brutal for him, definitely.”
No Reunion for Mane When Reds Face Bayern Munich
There will be no reunion for Mane when the Reds face Bayern Munich in Singapore on Wednesday, with both teams looking to add some final touches to their 2023/24 preparations. Just one warm-up against Darmstadt remains for Liverpool when they return from Southeast Asia, with the start of the Premier League season on August 13 creeping closer.
Conclusion
Sadio Mane’s move to Bayern Munich has not worked out as expected, and he is now set to join the Saudi Pro League. Both Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel have weighed in on the move, citing luck as a potential factor in any shortcomings. There will be no reunion when Liverpool face Bayern Munich in Singapore on Wednesday, with just one warm-up against Darmstadt remaining before the start of the Premier League season.