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Munich
dpa
Bayern Munich have signed Senegal forward Sadio Mane from Liverpool on a three-year contract in a big statement of intent from the 10-time reigning Bundesliga champions.
Mane, 30, arrived in Munich on Tuesday for the mandatory medical and then put pen to paper on the high-profile deal until 2025.
Neither Munich nor Liverpool gave figures but the transfer fee has has been estimated at €32 million ($33.7 million) which can rise to €41 million with add-ons.
Mane arrives in Munich with the future of Serge Gnabry unclear and star striker Robert Lewandowski wanting to leave. Both are contracted one more year.
Mane joined Liverpool in 2016 from Southampton and won all titles on offer with Jürgen Klopp’s Reds, scoring 120 goals in 269 games for them.
“One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is. He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed,” Klopp said in a Liverpool statement.
Bayern meanwhile delighted in the big-name arrival, following earlier summer signings of right back Noussair Mazraoui and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, both from Dutch champions Ajax.
“We’re proud to have brought a player such as Sadio to Bayern. We’ve justified our claim that FC Bayern should be considered among the greatest clubs in the world,” Munich president Herbert Hainer said at Mane’s presentation.
Mane said: “There is no doubt that this one of the best teams in the world. I had other offers but I always thought that Bayern are the right club to develop and to win titles.”
Said Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn: “He wants to win trophies and has come to the right club.” Mane’s arrival could make Bayern bosses reconsider their tough stance on Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski who has said on several occasions that he wants a summer move, amid strong interest from Barcelona.
Kahn has insisted that the 33-year-old must stay but they could now reconsider, if the price is right. The big signing of is also seen as a boost for board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic, and for Kahn who has only been on office for a year.
“It’s great that our board led by Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamid?ic have managed to sign a player like Sadio Mané for FC Bayern,” Hainer insisted.
Salihamidzic said: “We’re happy and proud that he’s strengthening our team. Not only is he a fantastic footballer, he’s got that absolute winning mentality.” Kahn said: “We’ve managed to bring a player here who is absolutely world class. He’s versatile, very fast and is a great goal threat. He’s an absolute professional.”
Salihamidzic had said earlier that “Sadio Mane fits perfectly with the football that Bayern play under Julian Nagelsmann,” and Mane said he was “fascinated” when he met with the young coach which contributed to his decision. “We met which was very important for me, to get to know him and the project. I saw myself as part of this project right away. I didn’t have to think twice,” Mane said.
dpa
Bayern Munich have signed Senegal forward Sadio Mane from Liverpool on a three-year contract in a big statement of intent from the 10-time reigning Bundesliga champions.
Mane, 30, arrived in Munich on Tuesday for the mandatory medical and then put pen to paper on the high-profile deal until 2025.
Neither Munich nor Liverpool gave figures but the transfer fee has has been estimated at €32 million ($33.7 million) which can rise to €41 million with add-ons.
Mane arrives in Munich with the future of Serge Gnabry unclear and star striker Robert Lewandowski wanting to leave. Both are contracted one more year.
Mane joined Liverpool in 2016 from Southampton and won all titles on offer with Jürgen Klopp’s Reds, scoring 120 goals in 269 games for them.
“One of Liverpool’s greatest ever players is leaving and we must acknowledge how significant this is. He leaves with our gratitude and our love. He leaves with his status among the greats guaranteed,” Klopp said in a Liverpool statement.
Bayern meanwhile delighted in the big-name arrival, following earlier summer signings of right back Noussair Mazraoui and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, both from Dutch champions Ajax.
“We’re proud to have brought a player such as Sadio to Bayern. We’ve justified our claim that FC Bayern should be considered among the greatest clubs in the world,” Munich president Herbert Hainer said at Mane’s presentation.
Mane said: “There is no doubt that this one of the best teams in the world. I had other offers but I always thought that Bayern are the right club to develop and to win titles.”
Said Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn: “He wants to win trophies and has come to the right club.” Mane’s arrival could make Bayern bosses reconsider their tough stance on Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski who has said on several occasions that he wants a summer move, amid strong interest from Barcelona.
Kahn has insisted that the 33-year-old must stay but they could now reconsider, if the price is right. The big signing of is also seen as a boost for board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic, and for Kahn who has only been on office for a year.
“It’s great that our board led by Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamid?ic have managed to sign a player like Sadio Mané for FC Bayern,” Hainer insisted.
Salihamidzic said: “We’re happy and proud that he’s strengthening our team. Not only is he a fantastic footballer, he’s got that absolute winning mentality.” Kahn said: “We’ve managed to bring a player here who is absolutely world class. He’s versatile, very fast and is a great goal threat. He’s an absolute professional.”
Salihamidzic had said earlier that “Sadio Mane fits perfectly with the football that Bayern play under Julian Nagelsmann,” and Mane said he was “fascinated” when he met with the young coach which contributed to his decision. “We met which was very important for me, to get to know him and the project. I saw myself as part of this project right away. I didn’t have to think twice,” Mane said.
