Sadio Mane missing as Bayern lands in Singapore

 

SINGAPORE – Bayern Munich left for their second stop on their Asia trip without star striker Sadio Mané, who is on the verge of a transfer.

The 31-year-old Senegalese did not fly with the team from Tokyo to Singapore on Sunday morning, as the German record team confirmed at the request of dpa. Mané was not on board the charter plane because he was “in final contract negotiations” with a club.

Mané is on the verge of a transfer to the Saudi club Al-Nassr. Mané was already no longer part of the squad for Bayern Munich’s 1-0 friendly victory over Japanese first division side Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday, following the game at the Japan National Stadium as a spectator.

“You know what usually comes,” Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel remarked afterwards, referring to the upcoming transfer process. The Bayern decision-makers had made it clear to Mané that they were no longer planning to work with him.

In addition to the medical check, final transfer details still have to be processed.

Mané came to Munich a year ago as a new top star for €32 million ($35 million) from English club Liverpool FC. However, he was only able to meet the high expectations at the beginning of the season. Now he is parting ways two years before the end of his contract.

In Saudi Arabia, Mané is expected to receive a princely salary, while Bayern will probably collect a transfer fee of over €30 million. 

In Saudi Arabia, Mané is expected to receive a princely salary, while Bayern will probably collect a transfer fee of over €30 million. 

“I think Sadio played a very good first half of the season, he delivered good statistics. It wasn’t all his fault that things didn’t work out for us in the second half of the season. The big picture was no longer right for us,” said Bayern Munich teammate Joshua Kimmich in Tokyo on Mané’s premature departure.

“When you come as a top star, you have to listen to a lot of criticism, some justified, some unjustified.”